PRIME MINISTER

Uganda

Alison McGovern: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President Yoweri Museveni about Uganda’s proposed anti-homosexuality legislation.

David Cameron: In his statement of today’s date, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made clear the Government’s deep concern and disappointment that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda has been signed into law. The UK strongly opposes all discrimination on any grounds. We question the Bill’s compatibility with Uganda’s constitution and international treaty obligations. The Government has consistently raised the issue of anti-homosexuality with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels, and we will continue to press them to defend human rights for all.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who were in employment between (a) 2005 and 2010 and (b) 2010 and 2013.

Esther McVey: Between 2005 and 2010 the number of people in work rose by 150,000. Since 2010 the number of people in work has risen by 1.3 million.

Independent Living Fund

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that people in receipt of payments from the independent living fund continue to receive appropriate support.

Michael Penning: The Independent Living Fund is committed to providing a quality service to all fund users.
	Eligibility and levels of support are monitored through a structured programme of regular individual reviews or at any time if a user's circumstances change.

Benefits: EU Migrants

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he plans to make to the availability of benefits to EU migrants.

Esther McVey: We have already introduced a number of measures to stop migrants incorrectly accessing our welfare system if they have no intention of working and have not contributed to our economy.

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on whether requirements similar to those on landlords under Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 should also apply to the leaseholder market.

Michael Penning: The duties on landlords under regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 already extend to the leaseholder market where the lease is for a term of less than seven years, and does not confer an option for renewal for a term, which if taken with the original term, amounts to more than seven years.
	We do not have any current plans to extend this provision to all leasehold properties.

Civil Servants: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants based in Northern Ireland are employed on social security and child maintenance issues in Great Britain.

Michael Penning: The Northern Ireland Civil Service is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Civil Servants: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average annual salary is of civil servants currently employed in Northern Ireland who deal with social security and child maintenance issues in the UK.

Michael Penning: The Northern Ireland Civil Service is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Employment and Support Allowance

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will monitor the overturn rates of individual employment and support allowance decision makers;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that employment and support allowance decision makers are informed about successful appeals against their decisions;
	(3)  if he will (a) review the automatic linkage of reassessment periods for employment and support allowance to the original decision and (b) introduce a minimum period between a successful appeal decision and a recall notice;
	(4)  what changes he plans to the ESA113 form as a result of the Litchfield Review;
	(5)  what changes he plans to the ESA50 form as a result of the Litchfield Review;
	(6)  if he will increase the review period for those with severe brain disorders placed in the employment and support allowance review group;
	(7)  if he will allow decision makers to triage employment and support allowance claimants and issue ESA50 forms according to need.

Michael Penning: The fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment, undertaken by Dr Paul Litchfield, was published on 12 December 2013. Dr Litchfield made recommendations relevant to all of these questions in his review.
	The Department welcomes Dr Litchfield's review and is currently considering how to respond to each recommendation. The Government intends to publish its response in the first quarter of 2014.

Employment and Support Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employment and support allowance claimants have (a) entered into and (b) completed mandatory reconsideration periods; and what financial support aside from jobseeker's allowance is available to support such claimants during that period.

Michael Penning: At present, this data is not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.
	When a decision-maker has decided that a claimant does not have limited capability for work following a work capability assessment, the Department makes a decision assurance call during which the claimant can be advised of alternative benefits that may be available. For those found fit for work the main out of work benefit is jobseeker's allowance. The decision letter issued to the claimant in these circumstances also provides advice on alternative benefits that may be available.
	Specialist employment advice is also available from disability employment advisers.

Employment Schemes

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to support those facing the most complex barriers to securing workplace training and employment.

Michael Penning: The Government is committed to ensuring that people with complex barriers to employment have the opportunities, chances and support that they need to get a job and remain in employment.
	Jobcentre Plus offers all claimants, including those with complex barriers, a variety of support based on their individual needs, such as help with job search, careers advice, boosting literacy, numeracy and language skills, other skills training, work experience and setting up a business. Jobcentre Plus advisors can offer flexibility around the job search requirements for people undergoing substance abuse treatment, are temporarily homeless or who are fleeing domestic violence until they are in a position to seek work.
	All claimants who are long-term unemployed can access the tailored, back to work support, on offer from the Work programme, which offers more employment support to people with disability and health conditions, and other hard to help claimants, than previous schemes.
	We have set up the ‘Building Best Practice group’ to support Work programme providers in identifying the ways that disabled people, people with health conditions and other hard to help claimants can best be helped, and to help them share the best practice they have identified.
	On 25 November we launched three pilots testing differing support approaches for employment and support allowance claimants in the Work Related Activity Group with an 18-24 month work capability assessment prognosis. We are also testing out different ways of incentivising providers to work with some of our hardest to help claimants—such as our Recovery Works pilot, which pays an additional outcome for claimants who spend time in drug recovery treatment.
	For people whose disability presents a complex barrier to employment, there is a range of provision to help them, including Work Choice, Access to Work and Residential Training. Following extensive discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including disabled people themselves, the Government published ‘The disability and health employment strategy: the discussion so far’ in December 2013, which set out range of proposals to address the employment rate gap for disabled people and those with health conditions.
	We are also working with employers, through our Disability Confident campaign and regional events, to highlight the strong business case for employing disabled people and the support available to employers who do so. The campaign aims to combat the attitudes which act as a barrier to employment and the events offer opportunities for employers who are already disability confident to share their experience and offer peer support to those who are not.
	For people facing other, often multiple, disadvantages in the labour market we ensure that our policies remove some of those barriers and we offer specialist advice and support.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 165W, on employment schemes, how much has been spent on the Work Choice contracts in each contract package area to date.

Esther McVey: Due to commercial in confidence considerations we are not able to release financial data below the national level at this time.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the job outcome targets are for Work Choice.

Esther McVey: Job outcome targets for Work Choice are:
	Total contracted supported outcomes: 39,041
	Total contracted paid unsupported outcomes: 5,687.

Employment Schemes: Disabled

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the spending on Work Choice in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 is accounted for by (i) DEL costs of the programme, (ii) service fees, (iii) placement fees and (iv) 26 week sustainment fees.

Esther McVey: The total Work Choice programme expenditure:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total 
			 Service fees 31.5 70.8 68.7 171.0 
			 Placement fees 0.7 3.3 7.4 11.4 
			 26 week sustainment fees 0 4.4 6.7 11.1 
			 Total 32.2 78.5 82.8 193.5 
		
	
	All programme spend is DEL expenditure.

Employment Schemes: Disabled

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the spending on the Work Choice programme in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 is grant-in-aid funding for Remploy.

Esther McVey: Grant in Aid funding provided to Remploy Employment Services, relating to Work Choice, in the years requested was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 (a) 2010-11 31.9 
			 (b) 2011-12 28.1 
			 (c) 2012-13 28.1

Employment Schemes: Disabled

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the projected expenditure for the Work Choice programme is for each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15.

Esther McVey: The total Work Choice expenditure to 31 December 2013 is £257.6 million:
	
		
			 Work Choice 
			  £ million 
			 2010-11 32.2 
			 2011-12 78.5 
			 2012-13 82.8 
			 2013-141 64.1 
			 Total to date 257.6 
			 1 To 31 December2013 
		
	
	It is not standard practice to provide forecast or future year budget information as this is usually indicative, for internal management purposes only and subject to change during the financial year. All financial forecasts are reviewed monthly as part of a continuous planning process and subject to change in the light of ongoing reviews of performance and value for money achieved and wider priorities.

Employment: Older Workers

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase employment among people aged over 50 years old.

Esther McVey: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20 January 2014, Official Report, column 43W.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The Department has a central diversity and equality team whose role is to ensure compliance with all equality legislation and actively to promote equality and diversity in the development of policies, services, and in the treatment of staff.
	
		
			 Figures for the central diversity and equality team 
			  £  
			  Total Staff costs Headcount (FTE) 
			 2012-13 827,455 794,034 116.29 
			 2011-12 855,715 777,811 214.29 
			 2010-11 966,231 898,461 314.02 
			 2009-10 1,321,000 1,065,000 423.33 
			 2008-09 1,731,000 1,150,000 528.16 
			 FTE = Full-time equivalent. 1 March 2013. 2 March 2012. 3 March 2011. 4 March 2010. 5 March 2009.

Housing Benefit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the availability of shared accommodation for single people under 35 in receipt of the shared accommodation rate of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: No assessment has been made of the availability of shared accommodation for single people under 35. However the Department has commissioned a major independent evaluation of the changes to local housing allowance, including the impacts on single people under 35. The interim report was published last year and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/monitoring-the-impact-of-changes-to-the-local-housing-allowance-system-of-housing-benefit-interim-report-rr-838
	The final report from the evaluation is due to be published in the summer.

Housing Benefit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department identifies single people under 35 who have spent three months in a homeless hostel for an exemption from the shared accommodation rate of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: Local authorities administer housing benefit and therefore are responsible for identifying which single people aged between 25 and 34 qualify for this exemption, in line with the legislation and guidance issued by DWP.

Industrial Health and Safety

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to the press release by the Health and Safety Executive entitled HSE announces important legislation changes, what plans he has to review the changes made in October 2013 to health and safety regulations; and what consideration he has given to recommendations put forward by small and medium-sized businesses;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized businesses of the changes announced in October 2013 by the Health and Safety Executive to health and safety regulations.

Michael Penning: The changes to the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations and Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations were only implemented on 1 October 2013. Both pieces of legislation were consulted on widely before implementation and small and medium-sized businesses were encouraged to respond to the consultations. All comments were fully considered.
	Plans are in place to review the effects of the changes across all industry sectors and in all sizes of business. The review of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations will start in April 2014, and over a three-year period will consider all business sectors, including small and medium-sized businesses. The revised Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations will be reviewed in 2018, five years from its implementation date.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claiming jobseeker's allowance who were sanctioned in 2013 subsequently found full-time employment within (a) one, (b) three, (c) six and (d) 12 months in each local authority in England.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have disputed a sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK who have disputed a sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years have had their sanction overturned following appeal.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr Hepburn) on 25 April 2013, Official Report, columns 1081-82W and to the written answer I gave on 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 492W, for the years 2008 to 2012.
	The information requested for (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the
	North East and (d) Great Britain for the latest data available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants who have appealed an adverse decision and the number who had the decision overturned on reconsideration or appeal by area, referral action, 22 October 2012 to 30 June 2013 
			 Area Action Total 
			 Great Britain Appeals 8,560 
			  Reconsiderations 141,400 
			  Appeals—overturned 3,610 
			  Reconsiderations—overturned 74,680 
			    
			 North East Jobcentre Plus region Appeals 2,180 
			  Reconsiderations 22,970 
			  Appeals—overturned 930 
			  Reconsiderations—overturned 13,430 
			    
			 South Tyneside local authority Appeals 10 
			  Reconsiderations 640 
			  Appeals—overturned 10 
			  Reconsiderations—overturned 340 
			    
			 Jarrow parliamentary constituency Appeals 1— 
			  Reconsiderations 290 
			  Appeals—overturned 1— 
			  Reconsiderations—overturned 150 
			 1 Denotes nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Figures will include individuals who have had more than one referral decision or the same decision in more than one year, e.g. if an individual has a sanction applied and has also appealed a sanction then they will appear twice. 3. Data is to 30 June 2013 which is the latest available information. 4. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of sanctions applied is the number of low, intermediate, and high level referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules Source: DWP: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics database.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to his Department's decision makers since May 2010 on keeping jobseekers allowance claims live following the application of a sanction.

Esther McVey: Guidance on sanctions has been issued in a series of Decision Makers Guide (DMG) Memos which are now all incorporated into DMG Chapter 34 - Sanctions. This guidance is available on the https://www.gov.uk/ website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278266/dmach34.pdf
	A sanction is a reduction of benefit for a fixed period. Providing that the claimant retains underlying entitlement to jobseeker's allowance, payment of the benefit will recommence once the period of sanction has run its course. Volume 4 of the DMG provides guidance on the conditions of entitlement for JSA:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-makers-guide-vols-4-5-6-and-7-jobseekers-allowance-and-income-support-staff-guide

Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department’s Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department’s Ministers.

Esther McVey: Details of the office sizes you requested are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Square metres (m2) 
			 Secretary of State 82.80 
			 Minister for Employment 60.48 
			 Minister for Pensions 60.48 
			 Minister for Disabled People 60.48 
			 Minister for Welfare Reform 48.60 
		
	
	As the number of officials in each grade is less than five, we do not publish figures below this number as this could result in people being identified and therefore breach our data protection obligations. This is in line with standard departmental practice and those of previous Administrations.

Pension Service

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed in the Pension Service (a) at each location and (b) in each parliamentary constituency; and what the cost of employing those staff was in each of the last three years.

Steve Webb: The number of staff and their costs working for the Pension Service are shown in the following tables. Staff are located in specific pension centres, therefore data by parliamentary constituency are not available.
	
		
			 Staff costs 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Burnley pension centre 12,292,000 11,919,000 10,892,000 
			 Cwmbran pension centre 8,609,000 8,458,000 7,972,000 
			 Dundee pension centre 12,826,000 12,345,000 10,951,000 
			 Leicester pension centre 8,282,000 7,922,000 7,737,000 
			 London pension centre 14,651,000 14,196,000 12,561,000 
			 Motherwell pension centre 12,774,000 12,365,000 11,427,000 
			 Seaham pension centre 9,292,000 8,852,000 8,399,000 
			 Swansea pension centre 13,468,000 12,771,000 12,222,000 
			 Warrington pension centre 13,599,000 13,087,000 12,006,000 
			 Walsall PC 2,611,000 1,456,000 371,000 
			 Future pension centre 5,650,000 5,275,000 4,628,000 
			 International pension centre 17,933,000 16,043,000 15,270,000 
			 National pension centre 10,795,000 8,481,000 6,351,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Staff numbers (whole time equivalent) 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Burnley pension centre 516 499 467 
			 Cwmbran pension centre 351 356 354 
			 Dundee pension centre 532 515 496 
		
	
	
		
			 Leicester pension centre 344 343 340 
			 London pension centre 596 570 551 
			 Motherwell pension centre 501 495 499 
			 Seaham pension centre 388 373 357 
			 Swansea pension centre 569 551 529 
			 Warrington pension centre 563 536 503 
			 Walsall PC 296 293 281 
			 Future pension centre 321 280 292 
			 International pension centre 704 674 629 
			 National pension centre 579 581 571 
			 Notes: 1. Costs shown are full for the full year and have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. Staff costs for staff working in Network Services (doing work on behalf of the Pension Service) are excluded. 3. The number of staff is an average for the whole of the year and are shown as whole time equivalents whereby the hours worked by part-time staff are shown as a proportion of the hours worked by a full-time member of staff. 4. Costs and staff numbers also exclude corporate areas (HR/IT/Finance etc).

Pension Service

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with private operators on the potential for outsourcing the Pension Service;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of potential savings to the public purse from the privatisation of the Pension Service.

Steve Webb: No recent discussions of such nature have taken place and no such assessment has been made. We have no plans to outsource the Pension Service.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help older people claim the benefits to which they are entitled.

Steve Webb: We are committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to. I regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders and customer representative groups on a range of issues including access to pensioner benefits.
	The Department writes to people, at the address held on record, up to four months before they reach State Pension age inviting them to claim their State Pension. An information leaflet about the State Pension is enclosed with the letter. It provides details of how to claim Pension Credit.
	Customers can claim Pension Credit by telephone, removing the need to complete lengthy application forms; they can also claim Housing Benefit at the same time, and are advised of Pension Credit when they claim their State Pension.
	For the long term, our aim is to reduce complexity in the system. That is why we are reforming the state pension through the current Pensions Bill, setting it above the basic level of means-tested support and giving greater prominence to the contributory pension.

Pensions Regulator

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful enforcements actions by the Pensions Regulator against foreign-owned companies in connection with allegations of pension abandonment have taken place since the formation of that body.

Steve Webb: The Pensions Regulator has successfully taken action three times in cases involving overseas companies.

Pensions: Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2013, on pensions: gender recognition, what assessment he made of the representations about pension entitlements for trans people in paragraphs nine to 13 of the paper submitted by Helen Belcher to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Public Bill Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: During the Bill Committee we undertook to consider this matter based on evidence provided to the Committee. I am pleased to say that a Government amendment was tabled which will provide arrangements to protect the position of those survivors who would otherwise have been affected by their spouse changing gender.
	The provision is part of the second phase of implementation of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act which the Government aims to bring in by the end of 2014.

Personal Independence Payment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average wait by personal independence payment applicants from initial application to payment; and (a) how many and (b) what proportion of applicants waited longer than (i) three months and (ii) six months in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the length of time it takes to process a claim for personal independence payment from initial application to monies received by the claimant; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: We intend to publish official statistics on personal independence payment from spring 2014.

Personal Independence Payment: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the face-to-face personal independence payment assessment to be conducted by Atos as referred to in his letter to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 15 January 2014 under reference FBH 44237 will take place.

Michael Penning: I will write to my hon. Friend directly.

Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 212W, on re-employment, how much was paid to the staff referred to as part of their retirement package.

Michael Penning: The total amount paid to the nine staff as part of their retirement package was £298,847.72. The average cost is £33,205 per member of staff.

Social Security Benefits

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the behavioural insights team about improvements to written communications on benefit applications and assessments.

Esther McVey: Over the past 18 months, the Department has had a number of discussions with the behavioural insights team. These have been on a range of issues.

Social Security Benefits

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the payment systems for delivery of benefits through the Department is able to process payments in a currency other than sterling.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions can make payment in currencies other than sterling via our contracted overseas payment bank (Citibank). The contracted bank converts payments into currency appropriate to the destination country for the payment.
	Payments processed through the Department’s Central Payments System (CPS) employ two methods of making payments to customers in currencies other than sterling. Payments from the Pensions Service Computer System or Winter Fuels Payment System can be submitted by CPS to the Department's contracted bank specifying the customer's overseas bank account details and the currency in which payment is to be made.
	For other systems it is possible to make a BACS Direct Payment into a UK collection account held at Citibank. Citibank apply the customer's bank account details from their database and transmit the payment to the customer's account in appropriate currency.

Social Security Benefits

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount saved on benefits payments by those on zero-hours contracts whose income falls below the minimum jobseeker's allowance qualification for short periods of time but who do not sign on.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is available for those on zero hours contracts whose income falls below jobseeker's allowance minimum for short periods of time.

Esther McVey: Anyone on a low income who works for less than 16 hours per week may be entitled to jobseeker's allowance, provided that they are available for and actively seeking work.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of appeals against decisions on entitlement to (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment in the next two years;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for changes in the number of appeals against decisions on entitlement to (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment (i) over the last three years and (ii) as predicted to occur over the next two years.

Michael Penning: There are two primary reasons for the increases in the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) appeals in the last three years: (i) the reassessment of recipients of existing incapacity benefits to see if they are eligible for ESA; and (ii) the introduction of time limiting of contributory ESA for those in the work related activity group from 1 May 2012.
	Since April 2011 more decisions have been made on ESA as the Department processed new claims, converted more claimants from old style incapacity benefits to ESA and reassessed existing awards. From October 2013 claimants who wish to dispute a decision must request a Mandatory Reconsideration process before they can appeal. This allows the opportunity to provide any additional evidence, and for the Department to establish if the decision is right. While the Department is confident that this process will be effective in changing decisions, it is nevertheless anticipated that there will still be rise in the number of appeals overall. The Ministry of Justice regularly publishes statistics on the numbers of social security appeals, including those against ESA and PIP decisions, which have been received and processed.
	Personal independence payment (PIP) was introduced in April 2013 to new claimants only and to date the numbers of appeals received on such claims have been low. Reassessment of existing disability living allowance (DLA) claimants for entitlement to PIP began from 28 October 2013 in a limited geographic area, with further extensions to that geographic coverage from 13 January and 3 February:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pip-postcode-map-uk
	As for all DWP administered benefits, claimants who wish to dispute a decision must ask the Department for a Mandatory Reconsideration, before deciding if they wish to appeal.
	The Department does not routinely publish its appeal forecasts.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward plans to increase the £85 disregard in occupational pensions taken into account for incapacity-related benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Secretary of State reviews the value of the occupational pension threshold in incapacity-related benefits as part of the annual uprating arrangements. Having taken into account competing priorities it has been decided to leave the value of the threshold unchanged.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many sanctions were initiated as a result of reports from Work Programme providers in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013; and how many such sanctions were rescinded on appeal.

Esther McVey: The specific information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 167W, on social security benefits: fraud, what proportion of people required to pay back a fraud overpayment of benefits and not prosecuted in court (a) have repaid the underlying overpayment in full, (b) are actively making repayments, (c) are in arrears with their repayments and (d) have been prosecuted for breaching their agreement to pay.

Esther McVey: The information detailed in the following table, relates only to the underlying overpayments where an administrative penalty was applied in lieu of prosecution and the overall position regarding repayment of those overpayments. It is not possible to separately identify cases where the debtor has only received a caution.
	There is no recourse to prosecution for those who fail to pay but civil recovery would instead be appropriate.
	
		
			 Underlying overpayments where an administrative penalty was applied: 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2013 
			  Percentage 
			 Recovered in full 54.1 
			 Actively making repayments 22.4 
			 Are in arrears with repayments 16.4 
			 Civil recovery for breaching agreement to pay 0.5 
			 Source: Debt Accounting. This does not form official statistics but is derived from Management Information. 
		
	
	A proportion of underlying overpayments will not yet be in recovery as the associated administrative penalty is still to be recovered in full. This accounts for the 6.6% discrepancy.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to tackle benefit fraud in relation to (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence payments.

Michael Penning: The Department believes that any fraud is unacceptable and is taking steps to reduce this as much as possible. In February 2012, DWP published a strategy refresh with HMRC and the Cabinet Office outlining plans to tackle fraud and error in the benefit system.
	The 2012 strategy refresh can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/62522/HMG-Fraud-and-Error-Report-Feb-2011-v35.pdf
	The strategy includes introducing measures both to prevent fraud from entering the system in the first place, and to detect and punish those who are caught abusing the system.
	The Fraud and Error Service, part of the DWP, is responsible for the investigation of fraud against all benefits administered by DWP, including disability living allowance and personal independence payment. Each reported allegation is subjected to rigorous analysis and background checks against records held within the Department. The investigators work within the requirements of a broad range of legislation including Criminal Procedures and Investigation Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act which assists uncovering the true extent of all benefit fraud.
	The Department has not yet published any statistics on the level of fraud in personal independence payment as this benefit was only introduced from April 2013.

Training

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training at what cost has been provided for Ministers in his Department since May 2010.

Esther McVey: Civil Service Learning no longer has any responsibility for ministerial training. This has been passed to the Institute for Government.
	Based on this Department’s own records, I can confirm that none of its Ministers have undertaken any recent training.

Unemployed People: Basic Skills

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 421W, on unemployed people: basic skills, how much his Department spent on Skills Conditionally activities between August 2011 and August 2013.

Esther McVey: For the Department, staff resource has been the main spend on skills conditionality. We do not break down staff time to show how much is spent on making these types of referrals.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral evidence given by the Minister of State for Employment to the Work and Pensions Committee on 20 November 2013, Question 569, what progress has been made in commissioning the secondary piece of work referred to in that Answer.

Esther McVey: I made a commitment to on-going evaluation of the sanctions regime.
	We monitor all our policies as a matter of course and as part of this we will be sharing further evidence on sanctions within the forthcoming Work programme Evaluation and the Claimant Commitment research which will provide insight into the impact of sanctions on claimant behaviour.

Vacancies: Internet

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job advertisements were removed from Universal Jobmatch in 2013 following complaints; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: 576 job advertisements were removed as a result of complaints from members of the public in 2013. In addition a further 1,913 job advertisements were removed as a result of internal processes designed to identify inappropriate cases. Complaints are robustly investigated in order to maintain the integrity and quality of the service to employers and jobseekers.

Work Capability Assessment: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many face to face work capability assessments on the Isle of Wight have been outstanding for longer than (a) one month, (b) two months, (c) three months and (d) four months;
	(2)  what the average time taken by Atos Healthcare was to undertake face-to-face assessments for benefit claimants on (a) the Isle of Wight and (b) nationally since it began to deliver that service.

Michael Penning: It is not possible to provide the data for benefit claimants on the Isle of Wight. Information on this specific geographical area is not routinely reported by Atos Healthcare to DWP.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the hon. Member for York Central will receive an answer to the question tabled on 24 April 2013 on whether he will place in the Library a copy of the code of practice agreed by his Department, the National Association of Pension Funds and the Association of British Insurers on entitlement to survivor pensions for spouses and former spouses of transsexual people after the passage of the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Steve Webb: The hon. Member's question tabled on 24 April 2013, UIN 153826, was a named day question for answer on 29 April 2013. As Parliament prorogued on 25 April 2014 the rules of the House did not permit the question to be answered. A memorandum stating that questions tabled for answer on a named day after prorogation would not be answered was published in the House's summary agenda on 22 April 2013:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmagenda/sa130422.htm
	A copy of the code of practice will be placed in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Service

Ian Austin: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission what the average wait time is for callers to the PICT helpdesk.

John Thurso: Each call to the PICT Service Desk starts with a standard pre-recorded greeting “Welcome to the Parliamentary ICT Service Desk, etc.” This lasts approximately 12 seconds. The following table shows by month the average time (in seconds) to answer a call, excluding the message, for the past 13 months:
	
		
			  Average time (seconds) 
			 January 2013 33 
			 February 2013 21 
			 March 2013 17 
			 April 2013 27 
			 May 2013 32 
			 June 2013 26 
			 July 2013 36 
			 August 2013 31 
			 September 2013 31 
			 October 2013 70 
			 November 2013 72 
			 December 2013 41 
			 January 2014 112 
		
	
	Higher call volumes due to the rollout of new systems and a number of major incidents accounted for the longer waiting time in January. Staff turnover also contributed to longer waiting times in January.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Absent Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the likely effect on the (a) numbers of postal ballots forms issued after the updating of its Code of Conduct in May 2014 and (b) effect of such a change on voter turnout.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not proposed changing the Code of Conduct for Campaigners to restrict the ability of campaigners to encourage electors to apply to vote by post and to issue application forms. The commission has recommended that campaigners should not be involved in the process of completing or collecting postal vote application forms or handling postal ballot packs.
	The commission has not yet made any assessment of the likely effect on changes to voter turnout as a result of its proposal. The commission expects to consider any evidence about possible changes to turnout as part of its discussions on changes to its Code of Conduct for Campaigners with political parties, returning officers and electoral registration officers. This will include discussing additional steps that returning officers and electoral registration officers could take to help electors complete and return application forms and postal ballot packs.

Absent Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with Citizens Advice on making registration and postal ballot forms available for all Citizens Advice clients and paying the Citizens Advice for this service.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not yet had any such discussions with the Citizens Advice Bureau but that it plans to approach them as part of its work to promote awareness of individual electoral registration.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what input and output measures are used to assess specific aspects of the success or otherwise of electoral registration campaigns.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that specific input and output measures are considered for each electoral registration campaign. These are set in line with Government Communications Network best practice advice.
	The main input measures are typically the cost of the campaign and how many people will see it through the different media channels that are used.
	The main output measure for voter registration campaigns is typically the number of people who actually see the campaign. This is measured by quantitative tracking research undertaken with the members of the public before and after the campaign.
	The commission uses the number of registration forms downloaded from its aboutmyvote.co.uk website as the main measure of the success of its registration campaigns.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will place in the Library a copy of the 2011 research into the accuracy of the electoral registers.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has placed a copy in the Library.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will repeat its 2008 request to the Office of National Statistics to match census data against electoral registration data.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has been working with the Office for National Statistics, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the National Records of Scotland in order to match 2011 census data against the electoral registers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The findings of these studies will be published during 2014.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, columns 208-9W, on electoral register, what the average cost per download is of electoral registration forms in each of the three campaigns listed in the answer.

Gary Streeter: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question (PQ 185198) on 3 February 2014, Official Report, columns 60-62W, containing the cost per download of previous Commission campaigns.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2013, Official Report, columns 611-2W, on electoral registration officers, how effective the Electoral Commission's interventions against each ERO who repeatedly failed to implement performance standard 3 were.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that where the returns and other available information from individual EROs indicates that they may not be meeting performance standard 3, the Commission works with them to identify and recommend improvements that could be made, with a view to ensuring that they take the necessary steps to be able to meet the standard.
	EROs have demonstrated a marked improvement in meeting performance standard 3; the numbers not meeting this standard reduced from 58 EROs in 2011 to 30 EROs in 2012.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 621W, on electoral register, whether the Electoral Commission proactively seeks partnership working with groups in civic society for the specific purpose of increasing voter registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that as part of its campaign to raise the public's awareness of Individual Electoral Registration, it is proactively seeking partnerships with a broad range of national civic society organisations, businesses and others who have been assessed as having effective access to those who are least likely to be on the electoral register.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer given by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Cities and Constitution) of 27 January 2014, Official Report, columns 386-7W, on electoral register, if he will discuss with the Department for Work and Pensions making electoral registration forms available at all Jobcentre Plus offices and ATOS test centres.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it supports any measure to increase registration, including making registration forms available at Jobcentre Plus and any other public facing offices. The Commission will hold discussions with the Cabinet Office regarding any meetings that have taken place between themselves and the Department for Work and Pensions already with a view to encouraging the hon. Member's suggestion.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2014, Official Report, columns 209-10W, on electoral register, whether the Electoral Commission has made a comparative assessment of cost effectiveness of Electoral Commission electoral registration companies and those organised by groups in civic society; and whether the Electoral Commission has considered outsourcing such campaigns on the grounds of efficiency.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it takes an interest in campaigns run by civil society and seeks where possible to understand how effective these have been.
	Prior to 2010, the Commission provided grants to civil society organisations to assist them in promoting understanding of the democratic process, particularly among under-represented groups. The Commission undertook an evaluation of the grants it awarded prior to closure of the programme in 2010. The Commission will place a copy of its final evaluation of the programme in the Library.
	The Commission currently uses specialist organisations to help deliver specific elements of its campaigns including creative development, media planning and buying.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 620W, on electoral register, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of how well its advice and guidance to electoral registration officers (EROs) on increasing registration of attainers is being implemented; and which EROs are the best performing in this respect.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that guidance issued to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on targeting under-registered groups includes advice and tactics on how to engage with attainers as part of their local public engagement work.
	The Commission monitors the performance of EROs through its performance standards framework. The objective of the Commission's new performance standard 1 is to ensure that all EROs understand the particular challenges in their registration area and develop a plan for engaging with residents which responds to those challenges.
	All EROs were required to submit copies of their local public engagement strategy in October 2013, and in March 2014 the Commission will make an assessment of EROs' performance against the first of the new performance standards, and will report on its conclusions.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 620W, on electoral register, how the Electoral Commission gathered examples of best practice on increased registration of attainers; and if the Commission will disseminate that best practice information to hon. Members.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its knowledge of how to reach attainers comes from various sources, including the results of tracking research conducted before and after campaigns, message testing with the general public, the expertise and prior research of media planning agencies, and responses received from campaigns (and aspects of campaigns) undertaken specifically to target attainers—including the use of Facebook advertising.
	This work has informed the guidance issued to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on targeting under-registered groups which includes advice and tactics on how to engage with attainers as part of their local public engagement work. A copy of this guidance will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Additionally, the Commission monitors the performance of EROs through its performance standards framework. The objective of the Commission's new performance standard 1 is to ensure that all EROs understand the particular challenges in their registration area and develop a plan for engaging with residents which responds to those challenges.
	As part of this, all EROs were required to submit copies of their local public engagement strategy in October 2013. In reviewing these strategies, the Commission have identified a number of good practice examples which are being shared in both their targeted work with individual EROs and, where applicable, more widely through their weekly Bulletin to electoral administrators.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2014, Official Report, columns 619-20W, on electoral register, what funding the Electoral Commission has spent on making the public aware of the transition to individual electoral registration; and what assessment the Commission has made of the effectiveness of that awareness campaign.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its budget for Individual Electoral Registration activity is £8.765 million over the period 2013-14 to 2015-16.
	The Commission's campaign activity has not yet started, and will commence in July to coincide with the write-out to electors in England and Wales from their respective Electoral Registration Officers.
	All of the main materials and messages for the campaign have been independently tested with the public to ensure they encourage the right response.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2013, Official Report, column 457W, on electoral register, if he will place a copy of the letter sent to hon. Members concerning non-compliance with Electoral Commission regulations and performance indicators on electoral registration in the Library.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that an example of such a letter will be placed in the Library.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2014, Official Report, column 510W, on electoral register, whether the Electoral Commission has itself initiated voter registration days, weeks or months; how much was spent on this; and how effective these campaigns were.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has initiated voter registration days targeted at specific groups.
	This includes the overseas voter registration day on 26 February 2014, supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as specific voter registration days with the armed forces, working with the Ministry of Defence.
	These voter registration days are conducted at no cost, as they rely on media and stakeholder interest generated by the commission and other organisations.

Electoral Register: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, columns 622-23W, on electoral register: fraud, what monitoring of public perception of electoral registration fraud the Electoral Commission undertook prior to 2010.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it carries out regular public opinion research on concerns about electoral fraud but it did not ask whether people specifically think that registering to vote is safe from fraud prior to its 2010 tracker survey.
	The Commission has asked a broader question on the percentage of the public that think electoral fraud is a problem in an annual survey since 2003. The results are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Dec 2003 Apr 2005 Dec 2005 to Jan 2006 Nov 20061 Jan 2008 Dec 2008 Dec 2009 Dec 2010 Dec 2011 Dec 2012 
			 A very/fairly big problem 23 46 31 37 33 34 27 40 36 36 
			 Not a very big problem/not a problem at all 53 42 51 43 58 53 64 50 51 52 
			 Do not know 24 11 19 21 9 13 9 10 13 13 
			 1 Please note that the 2005 and 2006 surveys were carried out via face-to-face methods. All other surveys were carried out via telephone. Findings from face-to-face and telephone surveys are broadly comparable but caution should be exercised. 
		
	
	Findings from this research are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www-electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/our-research/public-opinion-survey

Electorate

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2014, Official Report, columns 468-70W, on electorate, if he will publish in full the minutes in annex B of the Electoral Commission’s letter, extracts from minutes of meetings held with hon. Members.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that there are no minutes of the meeting but that the extracts disclosed in annex B were taken from informal notes written for the commission’s internal use. The meetings concerned were not minuted and as such there is no agreed record of the relevant meetings with hon. Members to publish.

Electorate

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential effect the introduction of photo ID as a prerequisite for voting would have on turnout in each (a) socio-economic group, (b) ethnic group and (c) 10-year cohort from 18-years-old.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission intends to carry out further consultation and analysis during 2014 to identify a proportionate and accessible scheme for verifying identity at polling stations in Great Britain. This will include consideration of the acceptable forms of photographic ID to be included in the scheme and the likely impact on different groups of electors, including people from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and different age groups.
	The commission has also recommended that any scheme should provide for electors to obtain an alternative form of identification for the purpose of voting if they do not have access to any other specified form of identification.
	The commission intends to publish its detailed proposals by the end of 2014.

Electorate: Denbighshire

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, which council ward in Denbighshire had the biggest decrease in electorate from 1997 to 2013; and what the electorate in that ward was for each year for which data is available.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it collects ward electorates following local elections and has information for the Welsh council elections in 2008 and 2012. The commission did not collect data for local elections prior to 2006.
	These figures show that the council ward in Denbighshire with the biggest decrease in electorate between 2008 and 2012 was Denbigh Upper/Henllan (a decrease of 148 electors). The following table shows electorate figures for all Denbighshire wards at the 2008 and 2012 county council elections.
	
		
			 Local authority Ward May 2008 electorate May 2012 electorate Change in electorate 2008-12 
			 Denbighshire Bodelwyddan 1,628 1,616 -12 
			 Denbighshire Corwen 1,883 1,862 -21 
			 Denbighshire Denbigh Central 1,410 1,584 174 
			 Denbighshire Denbigh Lower 3,430 3,583 153 
			 Denbighshire Denbigh Upper/Henllan 2,484 2,336 -148 
			 Denbighshire Dyserth 1,881 1,890 9 
			 Denbighshire Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd 1,209 1,226 17 
			 Denbighshire Llandrillo 962 941 -21 
			 Denbighshire Llangollen 3,342 3,362 20 
			 Denbighshire Prestatyn: Meliden 1,552 1,549 -3 
			 Denbighshire Prestatyn: Central Ward 2,736 2,822 86 
			 Denbighshire Prestatyn: East Ward 3,100 3,220 120 
			 Denbighshire Prestatyn: North Ward 4,695 4,717 22 
			 Denbighshire Prestatyn: South West Ward 2,820 2,856 36 
			 Denbighshire Rhuddlan 2,915 2,936 21 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl: East Ward 3,721 3,796 75 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl: South East Ward 5,935 6,025 90 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl: South Ward 3,083 3,022 -61 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl: South West Ward 3,560 3,725 165 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl: West Ward 3,494 3,510 16 
			 Denbighshire Ruthin 4,197 4,366 169 
			 Denbighshire St Asaph East 1,348 1,400 52 
			 Denbighshire St Asaph West 1,337 1,326 -11 
			 Denbighshire Trefnant 1,525 1,573 48 
			 Denbighshire Tremeirchion 1,280 1,325 45 
			 Denbighshire Efenechtyd 1,303 1,306 3 
			 Denbighshire Llanarmon-Yn-Lal/Llandelga 1,908 1,968 60 
			 Denbighshire Llandyrnog 1,678 1,694 16 
		
	
	
		
			 Denbighshire Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd 1,846 1,816 -30 
			 Denbighshire Llanrhaeadr-Yng-Nghinmeirch 1,523 1,524 1 
		
	
	Further election data, including electorate sizes for other elections, can be found on Denbighshire county council website at the following link:
	https://moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk/mgManageElectionResults.aspx?bcr=1&LLL=0

Meetings

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Electoral Commission held at 9.00am on 18 September 2013.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that minutes of its meetings are published on its website here:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk

TREASURY

Assets

Grahame Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department are working on the sale of (a) the Government's shareholding in Eurostar International Ltd and (b) London and Continental Railways property assets.

Danny Alexander: The sale of the Government's shareholding in Eurostar-International Ltd and London and Continental Railways property assets is the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

Bitcoin

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use and regulation of Bitcoins.

Sajid Javid: Bitcoin may be used as a medium of exchange or as a speculative investment. Bitcoin is currently unregulated, and the Government currently has no plans to regulate virtual currencies or virtual currency exchanges.

Business: Government Assistance

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the hospitality sector.

Sajid Javid: The Government has committed to making the UK one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business across all sectors. The Government has taken a number of steps to achieve this objective including: cutting the main rate of corporation tax from 28% in 2010 to 23%—the lowest of any major western economy; providing help with the level of business rates by extending the doubling of small business rates relief (SBRR) for a further year, reducing the cost by an average of £800 per annum for over 500,000 businesses; and at autumn statement 2013, announcing a business rates discount of up to £1,000 for retail premises (including pubs, cafes, restaurants) with rateable values of below £50,000.
	Access to finance is being improved through the creation of the British Business bank. In addition, the autumn statement announced a doubling of funding to the start-up loans scheme which has funded a number of start ups in the hospitality sector.

Business: Loans

Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of bank lending to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and recognises the importance that businesses play in the economy. Since 2010, the Government has introduced several measures aimed at improving lending to small and medium-sized businesses, notably the Business bank and the funding for lending scheme. The funding for lending scheme was extended in April 2013. Subsequently, in November 2013, the Government announced that the scheme will be refocused on business lending, SMEs in particular. Recent evidence shows that credit conditions have improved for small businesses.

Capital Gains Tax

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the future income to the Exchequer resulting from the changes to capital gains tax on overseas owners of UK property announced in the Autumn Statement 2013.

David Gauke: Estimates of the future income to the Exchequer resulting from charging capital gains tax on overseas owners of UK residential property were published in the Autumn Statement document at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2013-documents
	These estimates will be updated at Budget 2014 to reflect changes in economic determinants and any more recent relevant data.

Capital Gains Tax

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to ring-fence the money raised by the changes to capital gains tax on overseas owners of UK property announced in the Autumn Statement 2013 for any particular purpose.

David Gauke: The introduction of a capital gains tax charge on non-residents disposing of UK residential property from April 2015 is primarily intended to result in fairer taxation of residential property. Along with other CGT receipts, the money raised by this charge will go into the Exchequer consolidated fund.

Child Benefit

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse has been of registering people for self-assessment tax who now qualify because of changes to child benefit.

David Gauke: As of 31 January 2014, 224,000 new registrations for self-assessment had been received from those affected by the introduction of the high income child benefit charge. Over 90% of the people affected by the changes took the action needed. The changes to child benefit will save £1.5 billion a year.
	The administrative costs of the high income child benefit charge remain as set out in answers to 128154 on 3 December 2012, Official Report, column 593W, and 136528 on 15 January 2013, Official Report, columns 662-63W.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2013, Official Report, columns 289-90W, on children: day care, how many (a) basic, (b) higher and (c) additional rate taxpayers were in receipt of employer supported child care vouchers in each of the last three years.

Nicky Morgan: Since April 2011 tax relief for higher and additional rate taxpayers joining a child care voucher scheme is restricted to the maximum available to basic rate taxpayers.
	We estimate the average number of recipients of child care vouchers in recent years to be:
	
		
			  Recipients of child care vouchers 
			 2007-08 250,000 
			 2008-09 310,000 
			 2009-10 370,000 
			 2010-11 430,000 
			 2011-12 500,000 
			 2012-13 550,000 
		
	
	The estimated breakdown into basic rate taxpayers and higher/additional rate taxpayers in the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Basic rate taxpayers Higher or additional rate taxpayers Total recipients 
			 2010-11 260,000 170,000 430,000 
			 2011-12 270,000 230,000 500,000 
			 2012-13 290,000 260,000 550,000 
		
	
	Reliable separate figures for additional rate taxpayers are not available.

Credit Reference Agencies

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the credit reporting agencies on the introduction of real time credit data sharing.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is looking at real-time market-wide data sharing as a priority, including as part of its work to design a payday cap.
	The FCA has already made clear to payday lenders and credit reference agencies that they must identify and remove any data sharing blockages involving payday lenders as a matter of urgency. The FCA has said that if the industry cannot overcome the obstacles, and if the FCA is best placed to bring about data-sharing, it will not hesitate to act. The Government strongly endorses this message and the FCA's commitment to act if the market does not respond quickly enough.

Debts: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of levels of personal debt people resident in Scotland held in unsecured personal loans, secured personal loans, credit cards, store cards, hire purchase agreements and other unsecured personal borrowings in each of the last four financial years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the average annual cost to consumers in Scotland of servicing personal debt held in the form of unsecured personal loans, secured personal loans, credit card debt, store card debt, hire purchase agreements and other unsecured personal borrowing; and if he will estimate the effect on such costs of lenders increasing their rates by (a) one per cent, (b) two per cent and (c) three per cent above present levels.

Sajid Javid: The Government does not hold such data at the Scottish level. However, the Bank of England regularly publishes information on UK consumer credit levels and interest rates.

First Time Buyers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to help first-time buyers find affordable mortgages.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many households as possible. The Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme was set up to support households who cannot get a mortgage because of the very large deposits required by lenders following the financial crisis, but who can afford the mortgage repayments.
	The Help to Buy: equity loan is available to all those who aspire to own a new build home, but struggle to access or afford the repayments on a low deposit mortgage. Under this part of the scheme the Government provides an equity loan worth up to 20% of the value of a new build home, interest free for the first five years. This percentage of the home's value must be paid back to the Government when the property is sold or when the mortgage is repaid.
	Action by this Government to put the public finances on a sustainable footing has also supported low and stable interest rates. A one percentage point rise in mortgage interest rates today could add around £10 billion to the mortgage payments for families.

Food Banks

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which food banks each of the Ministers in his Department has visited since May 2010.

Nicky Morgan: The Department does not hold information on the visits each Minister undertakes as part of their constituency business.

Gold: Prices

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the US regulatory authorities' interventions in the market on the price of gold; and what assessment he has made of the effect such interventions have had in the UK on investments by members of the public in (a) gold-related securities and (b) ISAs and related schemes.

Sajid Javid: The price of gold is influenced by a range of global factors. The Government has made no assessment on the effects of US regulatory interventions in relation to gold related securities or ISAs and related schemes.

Income Tax

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers made use of the provisions of Regulation 5 of the Income Tax (Exemption of Minor Benefits) Regulations 2002 in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.

David Gauke: This information is not collected as there is no requirement for employers to report use of these benefits in kind to HM Revenue and Customs.

Individual Savings Accounts

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to (a) enable peer-to-peer lending platforms to be included in individual savings accounts (ISAs) and (b) introduce more flexibility in the rules governing ISAs.

Sajid Javid: The Government is considering a request to allow peer-to-peer loans into ISAs. The issues involved are complex and work on this is ongoing: officials have set up a working group with industry to explore the technical issues involved.
	With regard to the ISA rules more generally, these provide important protections for savers and investors. As with other areas of tax policy they are kept under review and are modified when the Government considers this to be in the best interests of savers and investors—for example when the rules were changed recently to enable shares traded on stock markets for small and medium-sized enterprises to be held directly in ISAs.

Landfill Tax

Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what revenue accrued to the Exchequer from landfill tax receipt in the last financial year; [R]
	(2)  what monitoring is undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs to ensure operators are paying the correct landfill charge; [R]
	(3)  what the budget of HM Revenue and Customs for landfill tax fraud investigation is; [R]
	(4)  how many successful prosecutions for landfill tax fraud have been brought in the last three years; [R]
	(5)  how many HM Revenue and Customs investigations into landfill tax fraud are currently under way. [R]

Nicky Morgan: Latest landfill tax receipts are published by HM Revenue and Customs at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/statistics/pages/taxandduty bulletins.aspx
	HMRC carries out risk-based compliance checks in a number of ways, from visits to landfill sites, audits of records, inquiries by correspondence or phone calls in order to assess the accuracy of landfill tax declarations.
	HMRC also analyses landfill operators' returns to monitor whether companies are paying on time and accurately. Where tax has not been paid or HMRC believes there is a serious risk of not being paid, HMRC can require payment of a security as a tool to enforce compliance. Where the use of securities action does not produce the required behavioural change then the company involved may be referred to Criminal Investigations with a view to prosecution.
	HMRC take the timely payment of landfill tax very seriously. In the last year alone, there have been 18 landfill tax cases that required securities action, resulting in a total tax saving of approximately £120 million.
	In the last three years there have been a total of 42 landfill tax cases that have required securities action.
	There have been no criminal prosecutions for landfill tax fraud in the last three years.

Minimum Wage

Andy Sawford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many companies have received financial penalties from HM Revenue and Customs for non-payment of the minimum wage in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2014 to date and what the total amount was of penalties issued in each such year;
	(2)  which individuals and companies that have received financial penalties from HM Revenue and Customs for non-payment of the minimum wage.

David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously. In addition to reviewing every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, HMRC carry out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW.
	The number of penalties issued to employers identified as owing workers arrears of pay under national minimum wage legislation is set out in the table.
	I have written to the hon. Member in relation to investigations specifically in his constituency.
	
		
			  Number of penalties issued Value of penalties issued (£) 
			 2009-10 381 111,183 
			 2010-11 934 520,568 
			 2011-12 906 766,807 
			 2012-13 708 776,517 
		
	
	HMRC is bound by a duty of confidentiality to tax payers and I cannot therefore publish the names and companies. However, employers identified as owing workers arrears of pay under national minimum wage legislation can be considered for naming by BIS. BIS revised their naming policy with effect from 1 October 2013 to make it easier to name and shame those employers where investigations commenced on or after that date.

Minimum Wage: Bradford

David Ward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to tackle cases of employees being paid below the minimum wage in Bradford.

David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and has done so since the introduction of NMW in April 1999. It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Strood (Mark Reckless) on 22 January 2014, Official Report, column 238W, regarding enforcement of the national minimum wage.

Mortgages: Regulation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mortgage regulations to protect homeowners who took out mortgages before October 2008 from changes to the terms of tracker mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The independent Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for the conduct regulation of mortgages, and sets the rules lenders are required to meet to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.

Non-domestic Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received (a) in writing and (b) in person from (i) petrol retailers, (ii) art galleries, (iii) cinemas and (iv) building societies prior to guidance being issued on which premises would be entitled to the business rates discount he announced in his 2013 autumn statement.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials receive a wide variety of representations from organisations in both the public and private sectors.
	Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Non-domestic Rates

Margot James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce legislative proposals for reoccupation relief for businesses occupying vacant shops.

David Gauke: The autumn statement announced a 50% business rates relief for 18 months up to the state aid limits for businesses that move into retail premises that have been empty for a year or more. Businesses which move into empty premises between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 will be eligible.
	The relief does not require legislative changes. It will be applied by local authorities through their existing discretionary relief powers in line with government guidance. The Department for Communities and Local Government will issue this guidance shortly.

Non-domestic Rates

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of current levels of business rates on small firms; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The UK has a diverse tax base. Any assessment of the business environment for small firms would need to take into account the entirety of the tax base and the wider support given to small businesses. However, this Government has recognised that business rates are a proportionately higher fixed cost for small businesses and that is why, alongside other support for small business announced at the autumn statement, the Government extended the doubling of small business rate relief (SBRR) for a further 12 months from April 2014 for England.
	Business rates are devolved and the Scottish Government has the power to change business rates bills in Scotland as they see fit.

Non-domestic Rates: Manufacturing Industries

Bill Esterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of business rates on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms.

David Gauke: The UK has a diverse tax base. Any assessment of the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms would need to take into account the entirety of the UK tax base and the wider support given to UK businesses. No assessment has been made of the effect of business rates alone on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms. The Government's ambition is for the UK to be the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business.

Occupational Pensions: Fraud

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with regulators on eliminating pensions liberation scams; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: A multi-agency group across Government, Project Bloom, was set up in 2012 to tackle the issue of pensions liberation. This group comprises the National Crime Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Fraud Office. Each agency has already taken a number of steps to combat the issue. HM Treasury have been closely involved in the work and will continue to consider further steps to combat pensions liberation alongside other relevant agencies, making pensions liberation in all its forms harder to carry out.

Railways: North West

Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Barnett consequential for Scotland from the expenditure of £600 million on the Northern Hub rail upgrades will be.

Danny Alexander: The Barnett formula is only applicable to changes in the departmental expenditure limits of UK Government Departments. Network Rail's funding is derived from several sources, including the Transport departmental expenditure limit. It is not possible to attribute Barnett consequentials to individual projects.

Revenue and Customs

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in each HM Revenue and Customs business stream have taken sick days due to (a) stress and (b) mental health and behaviour disorders in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The number of people taking sickness absence due to both stress and mental and behavioural disorders has fallen since 2011.
	Comparable data is not available for the earliest two years. The number of HMRC staff who have taken sickness absence due to stress and mental and behavioural problems in the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			 Total number 
			  Stress-related Mental and behavioural excluding stress related 
			 2013 3,624 1,749 
			 2012 3,817 1,794 
			 2011 4,682 2,006 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			 Year ended 31 December 2013 Mental and behavioural—stress-related Mental and behavioural—excluding stress-related 
			 Benefits and credits 314 119 
			 Business tax 143 58 
		
	
	
		
			 Corporate services 201 89 
			 Enforcement and compliance 1,319 599 
			 Personal tax 1,647 884 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			 Year ended 31 December 2012 Mental and behavioural—stress-related Mental and behavioural—excluding stress-related 
			 Benefits and credits 351 117 
			 Business tax 160 75 
			 Corporate services 206 114 
			 Enforcement and compliance 1,308 589 
			 Personal tax 1,792 899 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			 Year ended 31 December 2011 Mental and behavioural—stress-related Mental and behavioural—excluding stress-related 
			 Benefits and credits 429 169 
			 Business tax 195 78 
			 Corporate services 326 136 
			 Enforcement and compliance 1,550 667 
			 Personal tax 2,182 956

Tax Allowances

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to Chapter 4 of the Office for Tax Simplification Review of Tax Reliefs Final Report, published in March 2011, which tax reliefs are still in force and have not been abolished.

David Gauke: The Government is committed to simplifying the tax system, and abolished a total of 43 reliefs in response to the OTS's two reports on tax reliefs.
	Information on the reliefs abolished can be found in Budget 2011:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130129110402/http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_complete.pdf
	and the Government response to the consultation:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/190281/condoc_responses_tax_reliefs.pdf

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effects of a cap on lifetime allowance for tax relief on pension contributions;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of additional revenue accruing to the Exchequer of (a) changes in place since 2010 and (b) planned changes to come into force by 2015 to the lifetime allowance for tax relief on pension contributions.

David Gauke: The lifetime allowance limits the total value of tax relieved savings that may be accrued by an individual throughout their life. This allowance affects only the wealthiest 2% of pension savers.
	(a) The reductions in the lifetime allowance and annual allowance for pensions tax relief announced in 2010 are expected to raise £4 billion per year in steady state. Disaggregated figures for the revenue from each of these measures are not available due to the level of interaction between them. Further information may be found in the accompanying Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN):
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130102171134/http://hmrc.gov.uk/budget-updates/pensions-tax-relief.pdf
	(b) The reductions in both allowances announced at autumn statement 2012 and effective from 2014-15 are expected to raise around £1 billion per annum in steady state. Further information may also be found in the TIIN:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2013/tiin-1046.pdf

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the threshold of pension pots before the recipients can receive a lump sum.

David Gauke: People with total pension wealth of less than £18,000 can take this as a lump sum under the current rules. Additionally, individuals can also take two personal pension pots and (subject to certain conditions) unlimited occupational pension pots under £2,000 as lump sums, regardless of total pension wealth.
	As with all aspects of the tax system, these thresholds are kept under review.

Tax Allowances: Pensions

Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners have been affected by the 2012 Budget announcement not to increase the age-related personal allowance of £10,660 from 2012-13; and what the average amount is of additional tax pensioners affected by that change paid from 2012-13.

David Gauke: The effects of the 2012 Budget announcement are set out in HMRC’s tax information and impact note, available at the following address:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/tiin-2046.pdf

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people employed by large accountancy firms were (a) involved in and (b) consulted on the draft general anti-abuse rule regulations and whether the draft proposals were circulated to the Big Four accountancy firms before publication.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs had the benefit of five secondees from the legal and accountancy profession in developing the general anti-abuse rule (GAAR). They provided very valuable expertise in helping to ensure that the GAAR legislation meets the Government’s clearly stated objectives, in drafting the guidance and designing the procedures.
	The consultation document was publicly available and a number of accountancy firms were among the 169 substantive responses.
	HMRC engages regularly with business and tax professionals, and this included discussions about the GAAR at all stages of its development. The published consultations were formal, public processes open to all on an equal basis—no representations or responses were sought on the proposals before their publication.

Tax Collection

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payment system for the collection of taxation through HM Revenue and Customs is able to process taxation in a currency other than sterling.

David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs maintains sterling accounts with commercial banks for the receipt of taxation revenues. Payments in foreign currency can be made into these accounts and will be converted into sterling at the prevailing market rate. It is the responsibility of the remitter to ensure that sufficient is sent in the originating currency to meet their sterling taxation liability unless any separate agreement has been made with HM Revenue & Customs.

Taxation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of incorrect P800 notices likely to be sent in July 2014; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the number of incorrect 2013-14 P800 Tax Calculation notices likely to be issued in July 2014.
	Last year analysis indicated an accuracy level of over 99% in respect of 2012-13 P800 Tax Calculations where HM Revenue & Customs held the customers information.

Taxation: Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised from the greyhound industry in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The information is not available. Tax and duty returns are not broken down to the level of detail required to identify tax revenue from the greyhound industry.

VAT

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average annual benefit to households and individuals in each constituent part of the UK and each region in England of reducing the rate of value added tax on (a) books and periodicals, (b) food and (c) children's clothing to zero.

David Gauke: Books and periodicals, most food and young children's clothing are VAT zero-rated. The estimated cost to the Exchequer of these and other VAT reliefs is published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/expenditures/table1-5.xls
	The estimate is not broken down by UK region.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Polling Stations

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects details of the Polling Station Scheme in Northern Ireland for the forthcoming European and local elections to be announced.

Andrew Robathan: This is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. However, I understand that on 13 February 2014 the Chief Electoral Officer issued a draft polling station scheme for local and European elections to political parties for consultation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether promoting an understanding and awareness about the use of animals where no alternatives exist as set out in the Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research Delivery Plan will lead to a reduction in the number of animals used in scientific research.

Norman Baker: I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The Coalition Government's Delivery Plan, "Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research", shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth.
	Essential to this is our continuing development of new technologies that replace animal use. We must look to encourage investment in this area and strengthen the UK growth agenda through industry-linked initiatives. The scientific case for developing new techniques that do not involve animals is just as strong as the moral one. Where alternatives are available, they can deliver better science which is faster and more cost effective.
	With increasing globalisation of commerce and science comes a need for greater harmonisation of approaches. The UK is in a prime position to globally influence uptake of the 3Rs, replacement, refinement and reduction, and we must look to export our knowledge.
	Internationally recognised standards in regulatory safety testing are essential to give public assurance when bringing products to market. However, some tests require the use of animals and there is considerable inertia on the part of regulators to change. In the Delivery Plan we set out our commitment to accelerate the international uptake of validated alternatives to ensure they are accepted by regulators internationally.

Animal Experiments

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the publication, Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research, published on 7 February 2014, whether any consideration was given to baseline numbers.

Norman Baker: The Coalition Commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3R's), putting them at the heart of a science led approach.
	I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The Coalition Government's Delivery Plan, “Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research”, shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth.

Asylum: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on revising guidance relating to procedures for dispersing and accommodating pregnant women who seek asylum in the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has been consulting with the Refugee Council and Maternity Action with a view to updating the guidance. The Refugee Council and Maternity Action sent a response to the proposed revision of the guidance in January and this is now being considered.

British Nationality

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2013, Official Report, column 908W, on British nationality, how many of the 814 cases in 2012-13 that were concluded after 12 months were concluded (a) between 12 and 18, (b) between 18 and 24 and (c) after more than 24 months; and of those cases that took longer than 24 months to conclude, how long each such case took.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Decided 
			  Number 
			 (a) 12-18 months 484 
			 (b) 18-24 months 81 
			 (c) Over 24 months 249 
		
	
	Our reporting system counts 24 months from the date the report is completed.
	Other decisions will now come within that reporting period; therefore it is not possible to isolate the original 249 cases reported on.
	Reflects cases decided in the financial year.
	This data has not previously been published in this format.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been secured for wildlife crimes and trafficking offences at UK airports in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Border Force is able to confirm that, between January 2009 and September 2013 there were 49 such prosecutions. This includes both police and Border Force prosecutions in relations to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Control of trade in endangered species (COTES) offences. There were 41 wildlife crime prosecutions in this period, and eight cases of trafficking offences at UK airports. The cases break down as follows:
	
		
			  Police wildlife crimes Wildlife trafficking 
			 2009 9 0 
			 2010 9 4 
			 2011 5 1 
			 2012 10 2 
			 2013 8 1 
		
	
	Trafficking offences are defined as the illegal importation, exportation or re-exportation, or conspiring to smuggle species and their derivatives in general. The species are identified and enacted by EC Regulation 338/97 and subsequent updates. These trafficking figures do not include human trafficking offences.

Detention Centres

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how UKBA monitors contractual levels of staffing provided by GEO Group UK Ltd at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres.

James Brokenshire: The UK Border Agency was abolished in March 2013 and replaced by Home Office UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office Immigration Enforcement; this followed the creation of Border Force as a separate Home Office command in March 2012.
	The organisational changes have not altered the way in which contracts with service providers are managed. The contractual staffing levels for GEO at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) and for Serco at Colnbrook IRC are monitored by the on-site Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team and through monthly staffing and self-audit reports detailing the hours worked by detainee custody officers and managers.

Drugs: Misuse

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 395W, on drugs: misuse, what the budget was for the communications campaign mentioned in the answer; how many people that campaign was expected to reach; and what evaluation of the effectiveness of the campaign has been produced.

Norman Baker: The total spend on communication activity was £67,616. This includes the cost of digital and radio media, but excludes production costs, VAT and agency fees.
	The communication activity was projected to reach 45% of 15 to 18-year-olds, and reached a potential estimated audience of over 50% of 15 to 18-year-olds (data are not collected for those under 15).
	An internal evaluation of the campaign was conducted utilising web analytics and a web survey (served to those visiting the campaign landing page on the FRANK website) to monitor the effectiveness of the activity in achieving its objective.
	Over the campaign period there were 74,184 unique visitors to the legal highs campaign page. The legal highs A-Z page on FRANK saw an 84% increase in traffic compared to the pre-campaign period (24,169 visitors pre-campaign/44,667 visitors post-campaign).
	Top line findings from the self-selecting web survey on the FRANK website showed that of those respondents who reported to be 13 to 18 years old, 78% claimed they are more likely to take at least one positive action following their visit to FRANK, while 27% claimed they are more likely to take at least one of the negative actions.
	Examples of the positive actions are ‘Consider not taking legal highs in the future’ and ‘Talk to somebody about legal highs’.

Entry Clearances

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully applied for permission to enter the UK were described as self-employed in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The available information on grants and refusals of entry clearance visas for the calendar years 2010-12 and for each of the first three quarters of 2013 are published in the Department's quarterly release Immigration Statistics. The latest edition is available from the Library of the House and from gov.uk at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	Data for the fourth quarter of 2013 are planned to be published on 27 February 2014.
	It is not possible to identify from the available statistics how many of the people granted and refused visas were self-employed.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Secretary of State for Education to discuss campaigns against female genital mutilation; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: On 6 February 2014, Ministers from across Government, including the Minister for Children and Families and myself, met with charities and stakeholders to discuss progress being made in tackling Female Genital Mutilation, and signed a joint declaration announcing a range of measures to combat this harmful practice in the UK and internationally.
	I have also written to my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Education on the matter.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria will be used to determine the allocation of funds from the Female Genital Mutilation Community Engagement Initiative.

Norman Baker: We will determine the allocation of funds from the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Community Engagement initiative, by inviting bids. Bidders are required to meet the following criteria:
	That they are submitted by a voluntary sector organisation.
	That the proposed project will raise awareness about socio-cultural, ethnic-legal, sexual health and clinical implications of FGM.
	That the proposed project will strengthen the voice of communities speaking out against FGM.
	That the proposed project will create new opportunities to talk about FGM.
	The proposed method of evaluation.
	This is set out in the guidance notes for bids which has been published on the Home Office website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-fund-guidance-notes

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many hate crimes have been committed against transgender people in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many offences have been recorded in the UK as motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of being transgender in each year since 1997.

Norman Baker: Hate crime data recorded by the police have only been collected by the Home Office since 2011-12. In 2011-12, the police recorded 309 transgender related hate crimes in England and Wales and in 2012-13 the figure was 361.
	More detailed information on hate crime can be found in the most recent statistical publication on hate crime at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-overview-of-hate-crime-in-england-and-wales
	The Association of Chief Police Officers has collected data on the number of transgender hate crimes recorded by police since 2009 and this information can be found here:
	http://www.report-it.org.uk/hate_crime_data1
	These figures are not directly comparable to the figures collected by the Home Office. However, they show the total number of transgender related hate crimes recorded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be 312 in 2009, 357 in 2010 and 299 in 2011.
	Data for Scotland are published by The Scottish Government and are available here:
	http://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Documents/Equality_ Diversity/Hate%20Crime%20in%20Scotland%202012-13.pdf

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of progress the Government has made on tackling hate crimes against transgender people.

Norman Baker: Hate crime, including that committed against transgender people, is an issue the Government takes very seriously. One of our coalition commitments was to improve the recording of such crimes, and as a result, we know that 361 transgender hate crimes were recorded by police forces in England and Wales in 2012/13.
	However, we also know that transgender hate crimes in particular are under-reported, and building victims' confidence to come forward is a key part of ‘Challenge it, report it, stop it', our action plan on hate crime. That is why we have supported voluntary sector organisations to develop third party reporting services for transgender victims. We have also amended criminal legislation to give courts the power to increase sentence lengths for crimes motivated by hostility towards transgender people, and to increase the sentencing starting point for a murder motivated by hatred of transgender people from 15 to 30 years.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses in (a) Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex have been fined for employing illegal foreign national workers in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 10 February 2014
	The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures are based on the number of civil penalties served at visited business addresses.
	Penalty table for Chelmsford/Essex
	
		
			  Penalties issued in Chelmsford constituency Penalties issued in Essex 
			 2009 0 35 
			 2010 1 13 
			 2011 3 20 
			 2012 0 20 
			 2013 0 43 
			 Notes: 1. The figures in the table provided are sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional. 2. Postcode information for Chelmsford (CM1 & CM2) and Essex taken from www.Doogle.co.uk 3. Postcode information for Essex including CMO-9, CM11-CM20, CM22-24, CM77 CB10-CB11, CO1-16, E4, EN9, IG1, IG7, IG9-10, RM4, RM14-20, SG8, SSO-17. 
		
	
	Please note the figures are for penalties issued at the initial decision stage which may be reduced, cancelled, increased or reissued at the objection or appeal stage.

Immigration

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many named people without indefinite leave to remain are currently listed on the (a) National Operations Database, (b) Case Information Database, (c) National Allegations Database, (d) Migration Refusal Pool, (e) Warnings Index and (f) Watch Lists.

James Brokenshire: The National Operations Database, Case Information Database and the National Allegations Database do not record information on illegal migrants in the format requested. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The latest Migration Refusal Pool figures are published and sent to the Home Affairs Select Committee each quarter and are available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	It is long-standing policy not to discuss either the specific information held on the Warnings Index and Watch Lists, or details relating to the volumes of data on it, as to do so would not be in the interests of border and national security.

Immigration Controls

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the guidance on the UK Border Agency's website entitled Checks for staff employed from 1 May 2004 to 28 February 2008 was last updated.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 13 February 2014
	This guidance on the website contains historical information about previous provisions under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 which were repealed when the current rules under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 came into force on 29 February 2008. The guidance itself has not been updated as the checks required for staff employed between 1 May 2004 to 28 February 2008 have not changed.

Khat

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the proposed ban on khat will come into force.

Norman Baker: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2013 which proposes to control khat as a Class C drug was laid before Parliament on 31 October 2013. It is awaiting Parliament's approval under the affirmative resolution procedure.
	Subject to Parliament's approval, the legislation will come into effect 28 days from the date on which it is made by the Privy Council.

Licensing Laws

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that regular checks on online retailers' compliance with laws on the sale of alcohol are carried out;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that supermarkets and other businesses have measures in place to ensure that young people cannot purchase alcohol online for delivery.

Norman Baker: The mandatory conditions reform of the Licensing Act 2003, introduced in October 2010, re-enforce the criminal offences on underage sales by requiring retailers of alcohol to have policies in place to check the age of a person at the point at which alcohol is served. The amended statutory guidance for licensing authorities issued under the Licensing Act 2003 specifically covers online sales. This states that licence holders should carefully consider what steps are appropriate to ensure that age verification takes place before alcohol is physically delivered to ensure the recipient is at least 18 years of age.
	Licensing authorities are responsible for ensuring that retailers of alcohol comply with the law.

Members: Correspondence

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will be replying to the letter sent to her by post and email on 30 December 2013 by the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling regarding Mrs Rene Chung requesting a reply by 20 January 2014.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 28 January 2014
	I replied to my right hon. Friend’s letter on 18 February 2014.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter to the interim director general, UK Visas and Immigration of 15 January 2014 on behalf of a constituent, CTS ref M697/14.

James Brokenshire: The hon. Gentleman received a reply from the director general of UK Visas and Immigration on 13 February 2014.

Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police authorities in the UK have adopted the Newcastle health screening tool to assess patients with mental health issues; and what steps her Department is taking to increase its uptake across clinical commissioning groups.

Damian Green: No police force across the UK has adopted this tool. However, for three months in 2012, the Metropolitan police piloted the use of the tool in one police custody suite in London. Newcastle university designed and evaluated the outcomes of the pilot study. The Home Office is currently exploring with NHS England the benefits of health screening tools more generally, of which, the Newcastle screening tool is one example.

Ministers' Private Offices

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) staff, (b) senior staff and (c) staff in ministerial private offices in her Department are female.

Karen Bradley: holding answer 10 February 2014
	: In the Home Department (a) 52% of staff, (b) 34% of senior civil servants and (c) 74% of staff in ministerial private offices are female.
	Ministerial private offices include the offices of the Home Secretary, Minister of State for Immigration, Minister of State for Crime Prevention, Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime and Security, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Criminal Information.
	The figures provided are at 31 December 2013.

NHS: Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to ease visa or work permit restrictions for doctors and other medical staff from outside the UK wanting to work in UK hospitals.

James Brokenshire: The Government recognises the valuable contribution doctors from overseas make to our health service. There are several immigration routes available to doctors and there is no reason why those who are needed to fill gaps and who have a job offer from a UK sponsor cannot come.
	Several roles for doctors, including emergency medicine, are on the shortage occupation list, which means they qualify for a visa under the Tier 2 (skilled work) route. For other roles not on the list, overseas doctors can be sponsored to work in the UK if it is not possible to fill the role from the resident labour market.
	Doctors who graduate from UK medical schools can undertake foundation training in Tier 4 of the Points-Based System and then progress into Tier 2 with no need for a resident labour market test.

Northern Ireland

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets her Department has sold in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the value of each such sale was.

Karen Bradley: The Home Department's only asset sale in Northern Ireland in the last five years was a Toyota Prius recorded as sold for £3,073 net of sale costs in the current financial year. This was sold via the Government Procurement Service as part of the routine disposal of official vehicles that have reached the end of their economic life.

Offences against Children: Internet

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to protect children from online paedophiles.

Damian Green: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command of the National Crime Agency (NCA) is central to protecting children online. As part of the NCA, CEOP can access more resources to deal with complex cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and benefits from support from other NCA specialist functions such as the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU). Every officer in the NCA, over 4,000 people, has a legal duty to safeguard children and promote child welfare.
	The NCA’s UK and global reach is extensive, with officers stationed in over 40 countries overseas to ensure our international partners are working alongside us to tackle the abuse of children.
	We have made additional progress in tackling child abuse online through work we are doing with the internet industry. Internet search engines have made changes to their search mechanisms, and these new measures have been effective in making it harder to access child abuse images. Britain and the US have also created a new taskforce to work with industry to counter online child sexual exploitation.

Police: Finance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds have been top-sliced from individual police forces to pay for (a) double inspection, (b) the Direct Entry Scheme, (c) City of London Police and (d) the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the Police Grant Report 2014-15 (HC1043) which was laid on 5 February 2014 and the accompanying Written Ministerial Statement on 5 February 2014, Official Report, columns 23-27WS. The Police Grant Report is available in the Vote Office.

Procurement

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of services supplied to her Department by (a) Capita and (b) G4S in each of the last five financial years by (i) casework, (ii) decision-making, (iii) the serving of official documents and (iv) dealing with removals.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department's expenditure on contracts with Capita in financial year 2008-09 was £57.8 million (this does not include Her Majesty's Passport Office spend as they were using a different finance system to record their spend during these financial years). For financial years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 June 2013, Official Report, columns 686-7W.
	The Home Department's expenditure on contracts with G4S for the last five financial years is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure (£m) 
			 2008-091 96.5 
			 2009-101 100.7 
			 2010-11 101.8 
			 2011-12 45.1 
			 2012-13 47.9 
			 1 FY 2008-09 and 2009-10 does not include Her Majesty's Passport Office spend as they were using a different finance system to record their spend during these financial years. 
		
	
	Information is not collated on how this expenditure is divided between casework, decision-making, serving of official documents and dealing with removals.

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Chapter 4 in Part 5 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, what steps she has taken to (a) implement provisions to enable individuals to apply to have relevant offences disregarded and (b) raise awareness of the new provisions on erasing historic convictions for consensual homosexual sex contained in that Act.

Karen Bradley: holding answer 10 February 2014
	The Government commenced Chapter 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 on 1 October 2012. The provisions enable individuals to apply to the Secretary of State to have their relevant offences, which meet the criteria set out in the Act, disregarded. A disregarded conviction or caution will never need to be disclosed in any circumstances. Further information, including an application form, can be found on the gov.uk website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disregarding-convictions-for-decriminalised-sexual-offences
	The disregard provisions were developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Government Equalities Office and a range of lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) organisations. The commencement of these provisions was announced in the media, and details were provided online on the gov.uk website and on several national LGBT organisation websites.

Schengen Agreement

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a review of the operation of the Schengen Agreement and the UK's non-participation in the Schengen area arrangements.

Karen Bradley: The UK participates in Schengen provisions relating to police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (except hot pursuit), to narcotic drugs, and to carriers' liability. The UK is also working to join the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SISII). However, the UK is not part of Schengen arrangements on visas and border controls. The Government believes that the retention of frontier controls at ports and airports in the UK is the most effective means of controlling immigration and combating organised and cross-border crime. This is particularly so given our island geography and the high volume of people travelling in and out of the UK, and transiting the UK to travel to other parts of the world. Any future application to join those parts of the Schengen Protocol that would remove any UK border control would require an Act of Parliament and referendum under the terms of the EU Act 2011.

Telecommunications: Databases

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has made to the US Administration about improving the operation of mutual legal assistance treaties for obtaining communications data.

James Brokenshire: The Government works closely and has regular discussions with the US Administration, to help ensure that British law enforcement have the evidence they need to undertake investigations. This currently includes work to improve the secure transfer of requests under the US-UK mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). We are clear that the US-UK MLAT process does not provide a sufficiently timely or reliable solution to the requirement for communications data in tackling crime and protecting the public.

Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to provide de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration for people subject to terrorism prevention and investigative measures.

James Brokenshire: The police, Security Service and Home Office have developed comprehensive and detailed plans to manage the former terrorism prevention and investigation measures (TPIM) subjects.
	Those plans include consideration by the police of Prevent interventions related to the individual, their family and local places they might attend. They also include identifying stabilising factors to assist TPIM subjects to move away from extremism, such as employment and education.
	As detailed in David Anderson's annual report published in March 2013, we also engaged probation to work with TPIM subjects during the final months of their TPIM notices.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of services carried out by her Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards.

Karen Bradley: Since September 2009, the Home Office has adopted a Welsh language scheme. The measures set out in the policy document form the basis of an annual report sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner where the Home Office provides evidence to ensure compliance with the agreed measures for the scheme. This was last reviewed in July 2013 as part of the Home Office's Welsh language scheme report for 2012-13 and was sent to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for New Forest East, on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 191W, on Afghanistan, how much has been reported as misused in reports he has received in his Department from the United Nations and from advisers within line Ministries in each of the last six years.

Hugh Robertson: The UN does not provide individual states with reports of this nature. Where multilateral trust funds are used to support programmes in Afghanistan, funding from donor states is pooled. It is not therefore possible for the UN to provide to reports to individual donors on any allegation of misuse of their funding contributions in this way.
	The UK played a key role in the development of the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework that ties future aid flows to the Afghan Government's progress on key reforms, including meeting transparency and anti-corruption targets. We continue to help the Afghan Government tackle corruption, focussing on the principles of prevention, enforcement and accountability including improving public financial management and supporting the police and judiciary.
	The UK takes the misuse of aid very seriously. We acknowledge the risks posed in contexts like Afghanistan and all our projects are subject to rigorous risk assessment and robust financial monitoring. For example, DFID's Afghan programme is subject to independent review and no evidence of misuse of UK taxpayers' funds has been identified.

Afghanistan

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Article 26 of Afghanistan's draft criminal procedure law, prohibition of questioning an individual as a witness, on domestic violence or forced marriage prosecutions in that country; and what representations he has made to the Afghan government since the draft code was approved by the Afghan Parliament.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of reports that the revised Afghanistan Criminal Procedures Code includes provisions which could limit family testimony in criminal cases. We have raised this issue with the Afghan Government and continue to remind the Afghan Government of the need to fully implement their national and international human rights commitments, including the elimination of violence against women law, and to uphold the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, children and minorities. We will continue to support them in these efforts.

Armed Conflict: Children

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of child soldiering with his counterparts in those countries where the practice is prevalent.

Mark Simmonds: We continue to raise the issue of child soldiers with a number of counterparts in countries where there is reporting of children being recruited into armed groups and forces. We work with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to urge these governments to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release any child soldiers associated with armed groups and forces.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether grassroots women's rights organisations from conflict-affected countries have been invited to the Preventing Sexual Violence summit in June 2014.

Mark Simmonds: The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict will take place in London on 10-13 June 2014. The aim of the summit is to create a sense of irreversible momentum towards ending rape and sexual violence in conflict worldwide once and for all. It will have a strong focus on practical action and deliver a set of ambitious outcomes that bring together conflict-affected countries, donors, international organisations, the UN and other multilateral organisations and civil society.
	Women's organisations, including those working directly on the ground responding to and supporting survivors of sexual violence, as well as other domestic and international civil society organisations have an important contribution to make to these discussions. They will have a prominent role at the summit.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will grant (a) permanent habitation rights and (b) full local democratic rights to those people living on Ascension Island.

Mark Simmonds: There is no intention to grant permanent habitation rights on Ascension Island, which has always been a place of work rather than one of permanent residence. To do so would change the nature of the Territory and lead to considerable infrastructure and development costs which would place an excessive burden on the UK taxpayer, and which would create contingent liabilities for an indefinite period into the future. Ascension Island has a functioning democratic process which operates in keeping with its Constitution, revised in 2009. A successful general election took place in October 2013, when a full seven person Council was returned. This Council represents the views of those working on Ascension Island and provides advice to the Administrator and Governor.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the advice of the Ascension Island Council was not followed by the (a) Administrator and (b) Governor of Ascension Island in 2013.

Mark Simmonds: There was only one occasion, in 2013, when the Governor formally acted against the advice of the Ascension Island Council. This was when he introduced essential legislation to prevent children from being in bars and clubs late at night, bringing Ascension Island in line with UK child safeguarding best practice and in accordance with the advice of child protection experts.

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what day his Department will fly the flag of Ascension Island in 2014.

Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will fly the flag of Ascension Island on or around Ascension Day (29 May 2014).

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British Overseas Territories are bound into the British constitution beyond any reasonable doubt.

Mark Simmonds: Each British overseas territory is a separate constitutional unit, and accordingly, is a distinct legal jurisdiction. None is constitutionally a part of the United Kingdom. Each territory has its own constitution and is administered separately from the others. But at the same time each territory has a constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom, the sovereign power.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage participation in sport in the British Overseas Territories.

Mark Simmonds: The elected governments of the overseas territories are responsible for promoting sport in their territories. However, in line with the commitment in the 2012 White Paper, the UK Government stands ready to provide the territories with advice, where it has specific expertise, in order to help territories expand the opportunities for their people to participate in sport.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that citizens moving from the British Overseas Territories to Britain are settled as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Mark Simmonds: The UK Government does not operate an integration or settlement scheme for British nationals moving to the UK from overseas or from the overseas territories.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that endangered species in the British Overseas Territories are protected.

Mark Simmonds: The Government is committed to assisting the territories in protecting their endangered species. Habitat and species conservation is a priority theme under the annual £2 million Darwin Plus fund, which supports environmental projects in the territories.
	The Foreign Commonwealth Office has recently provided funding to a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds-led project to produce an ‘Extinction Risk Assessment' for the overseas territories. This work will, for the first time ever, compile data from across the territories on threatened species. The Government also provided funding towards the feral cat eradication project on Ascension Island. The removal of feral cats has allowed the globally threatened Ascension Frigatebird to breed on Ascension for the first time in almost 180 years.
	We are also assisting territories with implementation of multilateral environmental agreements such as the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES). Nine overseas territories are currently included under the UK's ratification of the convention.

Burma

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of people killed in the Du Chee Yar Tan massacre in Burma.

Hugo Swire: We have received reports from a range of sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, community groups and international partners concerning the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Northern Rakhine State in mid January. While the number of deaths reported varies, the majority of sources agree that at least 40 people, mainly Rohingya women and children, were killed.
	On 23 January, I called on the Burmese Government to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the violence—a message I delivered directly to the Burmese Government during my most recent visit to Burma from 28-30 January. The Burmese Government must continue to provide security for all communities in Rakhine State and enable the free distribution of international assistance.

Burma

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the Government's Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative in Burma.

Hugo Swire: We regularly lobby the Burmese Government on preventing sexual violence against women in conflict areas. I recently raised the issue of sexual violence with senior ministers, the Commander in Chief and the Northern Ireland commander during my visit to Burma in January. We continue to invite all countries, including Burma, to join 140 nations and endorse the UN Political Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.
	We are providing more than £300,000 funding, over the next 14 months, to three projects supporting the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in Burma. The first will train 60 women in Burma in basic legal skills so that they can provide advice to victims of sexual violence on how to access legal and other support services. In the second project, community leaders and local government staff in 40 target villages will participate in workshops and receive psychosocial training to gain a better understanding of their role in preventing sexual violence in their communities. These projects will be implemented by Action Aid in several conflict-affected areas: Kachin state, Kayah state, Rakhine state, Meiktila and Pyapon. To these, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is providing funding of £221,000 across this financial year (2013-14) and the next (2014-15), with the UN Trust Fund To End Violence Against Women providing the rest of the projects' funding.
	The third project supports work with non-state armed groups relating to the wider peace process, and the FCO is providing just over £97,000 across the same two financial years. In this case, the implementer has requested that we do not release further information, due to the sensitive nature of their work.

Burma

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ascertain whether any Burmese Army soldiers who are currently receiving training from the British Army previously committed war crimes, or crimes against humanity.

Hugo Swire: There are currently no Burmese Army soldiers receiving training from the British Army.
	From 6 to 17 January 2014, the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in collaboration with its academic partner, Cranfield University, delivered the Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context educational course in Burma to 30 Burmese participants, a mix of military officers and civilians. We are not aware of any involvement in human rights abuses by course participants.

Burma

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supports the establishment of an international investigation into human rights abuses against the Rohingya in Burma.

Hugo Swire: We believe that a credible and transparent national process is the most effective way of furthering accountability. We are extremely concerned about the situation and, in particular, the recent violence in Rakhine State. 1 made our concern clear during my most recent visit to Burma, 28-30 January. Where serious crimes have been committed, those who have perpetrated them must be held accountable for their actions. This should be done through a clear and transparent investigative and prosecutorial process. We welcome sentences passed on those guilty of the violence in June 2012. However, we continue to call for all those accused of having instigated, incited, or carried out violence in Rakhine State to be held to account.

Burma

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 151W, on Burma, whether he has raised the case of Naw Ohn Hla with his Burmese counterpart following her re-arrest in December 2013.

Hugo Swire: I raised the issue of political prisoners with U Soe Thane, Minister of the President's Office during my visit to Burma at the end of January. While I did not raise the individual case of Naw Ohn Hla, our embassy in Rangoon remains in close contact with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) in support of their work to identify those that have been unjustly convicted and ensure they are freed. We continue to make clear to senior members of the Burmese Government that even one political prisoner is one too many.

Burma

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2013, Official Report, column 352W, on Burma, whether he has raised the case of Daw Bawk Ja with his Burmese counterpart; and what reports he has received on whether she has been released.

Hugo Swire: I raised the issue of political prisoners with U Soe Thane, Minister of the President's Office, during my visit to Burma at the end of January. I did not raise the individual case of Daw Bawk Ja as she was released from detention earlier in the month.

Caribbean

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage other nations in the region to support the UK's anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.

Mark Simmonds: Through our platform of diplomatic missions in the Caribbean, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) supports wider British Government efforts to tackle drug trafficking and organised crime in the region. These efforts include National Crime Agency-led operational activity to disrupt the flow of drugs en route to the UK (particularly cocaine) and capacity building work with Caribbean law enforcement agencies and criminal justice systems. We enjoy good levels of co-operation from and co-ordination with Caribbean Governments, which is an integral part of our work in this area. As such, British high commissioners and ambassadors are regularly in touch with Caribbean Governments at the highest level and FCO Ministers with their Caribbean counterparts.

Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on allowing British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to lay individual wreaths at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

Mark Simmonds: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport leads on ceremonial matters, which includes the Remembrance Sunday service, consulting all stakeholders involved. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), lays a wreath on behalf of the British overseas territories. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for wreath laying.

Egypt

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 534W, what response his Department received from the Egyptian Government on restoring democratic elections in Egypt; and what further reports he has received on when democratic elections in Egypt will be restored.

Hugh Robertson: The Egyptian Government have assured us of their commitment to see through the roadmap into elections, with presidential elections preceding parliamentary elections. We expect the former to take place before mid-April and the latter before mid-June, in accordance with the election process timings set out in the new Constitution.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all its employees. The following table shows the amounts spent by the FCO's central diversity and equality team and the staffing costs for that team over the last five years.
	
		
			  Cost of activities (£) Staff costs (£) Staff (full-time equivalent) 
			 2009-10 406,262 268,377 6.00 
			 2010-11 115,031 98,671 2.00 
			 2011-12 174,118 98,202 2.00 
			 2012-13 27,374 111,465 3.00 
			 2013-14 134,342 119,482 13.75 
			 1 Provisional figure. 
		
	
	Diversity and equality considerations are factored into a wide range of aspects of the FCO's work as an employer, as a provider of services to British people around the world, and in the development and delivery of aspects of foreign policy. The figures in this table do not include spending and staff costs for all these activities that are not directly undertaken by the diversity team and for which data is not held centrally, nor for the costs of individual reasonable adjustments for officers with a disability under the Equality Act 2010. The 2012-13 budget is lower than previous years because the costs of many training initiatives are now met from other budgets. The FCO publishes an annual Equality Report which provides information about the diversity and makeup of our staff, as required by the Equality Act 2010.

Iran

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Iran has test fired an advanced long-range ballistic missile with radar-evading capabilities.

Hugh Robertson: The reported launch of a Bina surface-to-surface missile on 10 February would appear to be another breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 by Iran. We continue to call on Iran to comply with its international obligations. This launch does not, however, appear to represent a step forward in the range or accuracy of Iran's ballistic missile capability.

Iran

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the development by Iran of a new and more powerful generation of uranium enrichment centrifuges.

Hugh Robertson: In December the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization announced that it had completed initial tests on a new generation of centrifuges. Under the Joint Plan of Action Iran has agreed not to install or bring into operation any new centrifuges during the six-month interim deal. Iran has also undertaken not to produce centrifuges, except to replace existing machines which have been damaged, and only to do so with centrifuges of the same type.

Middle East

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking (a) to support the middle east peace talks and (b) to encourage all concerned parties to engage constructively in the negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is focused on creating a constructive environment that enables the middle east peace talks to succeed. That is why, in December, the UK strongly advocated the EU's offer of an unprecedented package of political, economic and security support for both parties in the event of a final status agreement.
	We also hold regular discussions at ministerial and official level with Israel, the Palestinians and our international partners.

Middle East

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support (a) civil society in Israel and Palestine and (b) groups which are campaigning for peace.

Hugh Robertson: Through our embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate in Jerusalem, we support civil society partners in both communities to implement projects that sustain Palestinian state-building efforts; reduce the risk of deterioration of the situation on the ground, and advance understanding of the fears and desires of both publics in the context of a lasting peace. We also support the work of trusted implementers to monitor and challenge settler violence, settlement expansion, land expropriations and evictions and demolitions in the west bank and East Jerusalem through the Israeli legal system. We also provide legal assistance to protect Palestinian rights to land and property. A key aim of this work is to support and strengthen constituencies in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories who are committed to resolving the conflict peacefully.

Middle East

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.

Hugh Robertson: We condemn the recent increase in rocket fire, from Gaza towards Israel, in violation of international humanitarian law. We have received no reports of Israeli casualties in 2014. Israel has responded with several airstrikes this year, killing two Palestinians and wounding several others. We continue to urge all sides to respect in full the November 2012 ceasefire agreement and to avoid any further escalation in violence.

North Korea

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department provides to the British Embassy in Pyongyang; and for what purpose such funding is provided.

Hugo Swire: The UK maintains full diplomatic relations with North Korea to deliver our policy of "critical engagement". This allows us to communicate directly our substantial concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme and human rights violations, while at the same time pursing a modest set of engagement projects. Our engagement projects are aimed at exposing North Koreans to the outside world from which they are normally isolated. We also provide some limited humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups.
	In financial year 2013-14 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has so far provided the British embassy Pyongyang with £598,640. £215,646 was to cover the costs of running the embassy including maintenance, local staff pay, travel, telecommunications and transportation.
	£382,994 has been disbursed to the following projects: funding for the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in North Korea to gather evidence from North Korean refugees in the UK; the British Council English language teacher training programme; an English language and culture immersion course for people working in institutions in Pyongyang; an exchange visit for Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials to the UK; an exchange between the DPRK and the Royal United Services Institute; a Red Cross disaster preparedness project; a sanitation project in Singye County; and funding for three projects promoting disability rights.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also funded two Chevening scholarships for people from North Korea this year.

Nuclear Weapons

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Government did not send a delegation to the conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons that began in Mexico on 13 February 2014; for what reasons this decision was not announced until the day before the conference began; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Government remains determined to continue to work with partners across the international community to control proliferation and to make progress on multilateral nuclear disarmament, to build trust and confidence between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, and to take tangible steps toward a safer and more stable world.
	The Government gave careful consideration to whether to attend the Mexico conference. However, we remain concerned that many supporters of the conference appear to have a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting nuclear weapons outright as their ultimate goal.
	The United Kingdom believes that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) should remain the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and for making available the benefits from the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The UK believes that attempts to establish new conferences or bodies to discuss such approaches risk undermining the full implementation of all three pillars of the non-proliferation treaty.

Pakistan

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) nature and (b) financial value was of (i) military and (ii) other assistance given to the Pakistani government in each of the last three financial years; what the planned expenditure for each category is in the (A) current and (B) next financial year; and if he will make a statement on areas of bilateral co-operation.

Hugh Robertson: Assistance has been given to the Government of Pakistan in a number of areas. The ties that join the UK and Pakistan are very strong. We are committed to working closely with Pakistan through intensive, practical cooperation that will capitalise on the growing, joint opportunities on security, trade, investment, education and cultural spheres.
	The approximate breakdown is as follows:
	Development assistance (nearest million)
	FY 2010-11: £215,000,000
	FY 2011-12: £215,000,000
	FY 2012-13: £203,000,000
	FY 2013-14 (planned): £355,000,000
	FY 2014-15 (planned): £405,000,000
	Defence engagement and assistance (nearest thousand)
	FY 2010-11: £2,634,000
	FY 2011-12: £1,825,000
	FY 2012-13: £1,723,000
	FY 2013-14 (planned): £4,516,000
	FY 2014-15: Not yet finalised
	Other assistance, including support to elections, security cooperation and migration projects (nearest thousand)
	FY 2010-11: £11,953,000
	FY 2011-12: £10,802,000
	FY 2012-13: £10,469,000
	FY 2013-14 (planned): £6,759,000
	FY 204-15 (planned): £5,369,000.

Romania

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Romanian Government on its implementation of a cull of stray dogs.

David Lidington: The responsibility for tackling the issue of stray dogs in Romania lies with the Romanian local authorities. I have not made any direct representations, but the British embassy in Bucharest closely monitors this issue and recently hosted a meeting between the Mayor of Bucharest and animal welfare non-governmental organisations, such as World Society for the Protection of Animals, Vier Pfoten and Save the Dogs, so that the Romanian local authorities can draw on the advice of these organisations in managing this serious problem appropriately and humanely. We would encourage Romania to allocate more funds to solve this systemic problem but recognise the difficult financial climate there. Our embassy will continue to pay close attention to this issue.

South Korea

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on continued US-South Korean military drills in and around South Korea.

Hugo Swire: As a Member of the UN Armistice Commission, the UK has regular contact with the US and Republic of Korea (RoK) on defence issues on the Korean Peninsula, including US-RoK joint military exercises. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the US Commander of the UN Command and head of US Forces Korea during his visit to Seoul in October 2013. I also met representatives from the UN Command during my last visit to the RoK in February 2013.

Sri Lanka

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the initiation of an independent, international war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka.

Hugo Swire: As the Prime Minister said in his statement to Parliament on 18 November 2013, we will continue to press the Sri Lankan Government for credible, transparent and independent investigations into alleged war crimes during Sri Lankan's recent conflict. We have made clear that if a credible domestic process has not begun properly by March 2014 we will use our seat on the UN Human Rights Council to call for an international investigation. We are regularly discussing Sri Lanka with a range of international partners ahead of the March Human Rights Council. The High Commissioner for Human Rights' report due ahead of the March Human Rights Council will provide an assessment of Sri Lanka's progress.

Sri Lanka

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the accountability process in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: As the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to Parliament on 18 November, we continued to be concerned about the lack of credible, transparent and independent investigations into alleged violations on both sides of the Sri Lanka conflict. We strongly support the position of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, that if Sri Lanka has not demonstrated a credible national accountability process by March 2014, then the international community has a duty to act. We have made clear if the Sri Lankan Government has not begun properly with credible investigations by March, then we will use our position on the UN Human Rights Council to work with the UN Human Rights Commissioner and call for an international investigation. The High Commissioner for Human Rights' report due ahead of the March Human Rights Council will give an assessment of Sri Lanka's progress.

Sri Lanka

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report by ACF International entitled, The Truth about the Assassination of 17 aid workers in Sri Lanka, published on 13 December 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: The British Government has been consistently clear that it is vital that there are transparent, independent and credible investigations into alleged abuses and violations of humanitarian and human rights law during Sri Lanka's recent conflict. This includes the 2006 murder of 17 Action Contre le Faim (ACF) aid workers. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights observed there has been "relatively little progress" in this case when reporting to the Human Rights Council in September 2013. This was reinforced by the 3 December ACF report. The Sri Lankan Government has recently stated that investigations are ongoing; it is important that progress is made in identifying and bringing to justice the perpetrators.

Sri Lanka

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the establishment of an independent investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka.

Hugo Swire: Since the end of the military conflict in Sri Lanka, the British Government has been clear that there should be a credible, transparent and independent investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law. Following her visit to Sri Lanka last year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that she had detected 'no new or comprehensive effort' to investigate these allegations. We share the High Commissioners concerns and do not believe that processes set up by the Sri Lankan Government, such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission or the Commission of inquiry on Disappearances announced last year, adequately address accountability.
	If credible domestic investigations have not begun properly by March 2014, the Prime Minister has been clear that we will use our position on the United Nations Human Rights Council to work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other countries to call for an international investigation.

Syria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on bringing an end to the civil war in Syria.

Hugh Robertson: The UK is actively engaging with our international partners to bring about an end to the civil war in Syria and to alleviate the terrible humanitarian suffering of innocent civilians. Most recently, the UK has championed a UN Security Council Resolution aimed at securing progress on the humanitarian crisis. In parallel, we are intensifying our support to the Geneva II process and are in regular contact with partners on the UN Security Council, the joint UN-Arab League Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the London 11 Core Group of the Friends of Syria and with EU partners—including most recently during discussions at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 10 February. All our efforts are focused on maximising the chances of the Geneva II process succeeding and achieving a political transition in Syria. A political settlement is the only way that the conflict can be brought to an end.

Syria

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Syrian Government about the killing of civilians in Aleppo.

Hugh Robertson: The regime continues a campaign of indiscriminate bombardment of Syria's towns and cities and has not taken sufficient steps to address the humanitarian crisis. The UK is therefore pressing this issue at the UN Security Council and calling for stronger action, including a resolution that will require free and unfettered humanitarian access in Syria. We continue to work closely with Security Council members, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other partners to reduce civilian suffering in Syria.

Uganda

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Yoweri Museveni about Uganda's proposed anti-homosexuality legislation.

Mark Simmonds: The UK Government has consistently raised its concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the issue with the Ugandan Foreign Minister in the margins of the Somalia Conference in May 2013. I discussed the issue when I visited Uganda and met with President Museveni, and most recently with the Ugandan Foreign Minister on 28 January 2014 and the Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs on 13 February 2014.

USA

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the US administration about improving the operation of mutual legal assistance treaties for obtaining communications data.

Hugh Robertson: The Government works closely, and has regular discussions, with the US Administration to help ensure that British law enforcement have the evidence they need to undertake investigations. This currently includes work, to improve the secure transfer of requests under the US-UK mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). We are clear that the US-UK MLAT process does not currently provide a reliable or sufficiently timely solution to the requirement for communications data in tackling crime and protecting the public.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the Movement and Transport Safety Regulator has identified instances of dangerous goods being transported from Afghanistan in each of the last five years; what the nature and risk was in each incident; and when each incident occurred.

Mark Francois: During the last five years, the Movement and Transport Safety Regulator identified the following incidents involving the non-compliant carriage of dangerous goods from Afghanistan:
	2009
	Eight incidents involving incorrect or missing documentation. The resultant risk being the chance of an inappropriate response in the event of an emergency.
	2010
	No incidents recorded.
	2011
	Two incidents involving missing documentation. The resultant risk being the chance of an inappropriate response in the event of an emergency.
	Two incidents where ISO freight containers were identified as containing incompatible dangerous goods. Risk that the dangerous goods could have reacted had the container been subjected to an accident or incident.
	2012
	No incidents recorded.
	2013
	One large lithium battery transported from Afghanistan to UK without necessary UN certification and therefore not cleared for transport. Risk of lithium battery fire.
	Incorrectly prepared road fuel tanker flown from Afghanistan. Issue identified at transhipment point and further movement halted. Risk of product release.
	Two incidents involving incorrect documentation and degraded packaging. Minor risk of product release and the risk of an inappropriate response from personnel involved in the transport operation in the event of an emergency.
	27 ISO containers containing lithium batteries arrived in UK with insufficient load restraint and incorrect documentation. Poor load restraint presented an unstable load for transportation and a risk to those personnel handling the containers.

Afghanistan

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian casualties have been recorded by (a) his Department and (b) the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as a result of weapon release by RAF personnel operating US unmanned systems in Afghanistan. [R]

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), on 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 187W, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr Godsiff).

Afghanistan

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will revise his Department's figures for weapons release from unmanned aerial systems by the UK in Afghanistan to include RAF personnel operating US systems; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Mark Francois: The UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) weapon release figures previously provided include missions involving UK-owned remotely piloted aircraft and UK use of US-owned remotely piloted aircraft. RAF personnel are subject to UK rules of engagement for all weapon releases when operating a UK or a US platform.

Air Force: Bullying

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by the RAF in response to the Service Complaints Commissioner’s report 2012 of the trebling of cases of bullying; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Regrettably, the figures reported to the Service Complaints Commissioner for the 2012 report were later found to be incorrectly inflated. The RAF has written to the Commissioner to explain that the data provided in January 2013 for the Commissioner’s 2012 report was inaccurate and to apologise. The number of bullying cases in 2012 had been reported as 47; the actual number was 10.
	The RAF takes incidents of bullying very seriously and puts a particular emphasis on prevention; every opportunity is taken to make personnel aware of what behaviour is acceptable and what is not, and what to do if they are subject to, or witness, inappropriate behaviour. Awareness is raised through RAF equality and diversity training during initial training and as a mandatory requirement every three years. Furthermore, RAF station and unit commanders have also been directed to engage early in the process by, for example, convening personal meetings with complainants. Furthermore, RAF station and unit commanders have also been directed to engage early in the process by, for example, convening personal meetings with complainants.

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ports in the UK the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier simulator successfully navigated and docked at.

Philip Dunne: Computer modelling has been undertaken for the navigation and docking of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers at its base port of Portsmouth and at Faslane as a contingency. This modelling has been successful.
	Desktop modelling has also demonstrated that the carriers can successfully enter other UK ports. If there is a need for the ship to dock at further UK ports, modelling will be undertaken if required.

Armed Forces: Financial Services

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will ban payday lending advertisements on military bases; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will undertake a feasibility study on establishing a credit union open to British military personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence recognises that armed forces personnel and their families can experience greater difficulties in accessing credit than other members of society as a result of their mobile lifestyle and time spent overseas. This can have a negative impact on an individual's credit rating; more stringent credit referencing in the current financial climate has exacerbated this issue. MOD has undertaken a great deal of work as part of the Armed Forces Covenant to address these disadvantages, including working with the financial industry, the introduction of UK postcodes for overseas locations and the MoneyForce financial capability programme which was launched in March 2013. As part of our ongoing efforts to better support our service personnel, the MOD is currently considering the benefits of an armed forces credit union. However, no decision has yet been taken.
	The MoneyForce programme provides financial education and awareness to service personnel, combined with accessible online support for the entire armed forces community via the MoneyForce website, available at the following link:
	www.moneyforce.org.uk
	It incorporates impartial information and signposting to more detailed guidance where appropriate, to help users make informed financial decisions, including whether to use the services of payday loan companies. Payday loans are licensed and legal, but they carry very high interest rates, can lead to spiralling debts, and are not a long-term borrowing solution. The MoneyForce website contains detailed advice on how to break free from payday loan debt.
	Although commanding officers retain discretion to decide which advertisements are appropriate for their bases, guidance has been issued to each of the services that advertisements from payday loan companies should not be carried in their internal publications. Unit administrative officers are also advised that they should provide financial signposting only to those businesses approved by the Services Insurance and Investment Advisory Panel.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces widows who receive a pension through the Armed Forces Scheme 1975 have voluntarily surrendered their pensions on remarriage or cohabitation in 2013.

Anna Soubry: The information for 2013 will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
	Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Katy Clark:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question about widows who voluntarily surrendered their Armed Forces Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) pension on 13 January 2014 (Official Report, column 439W).
	There were ten AFPS 75 widows payments voluntarily surrendered in 2013.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to protect serving female personnel from sexual assault.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining a culture where it is clear to all that sexual offences of any kind are not to be tolerated. All service personnel, regardless of rank, have a right to be treated with dignity. Our aim is an inclusive working environment that delivers opportunities for all, recognises and values diversity, and eradicates bullying, harassment and discrimination.
	Each of the services has a code of conduct which sets out the values and standards expected from service personnel. Both the Army and the RAF codes refer specifically to sexual harassment.
	Equality and diversity training is provided to all service personnel during their initial training. It raises awareness among service personnel of what is acceptable behaviour and what is inappropriate, and to whom they should report any examples of inappropriate behaviour. This training is refreshed periodically throughout their service in the armed forces.
	When sexual offences are reported they are dealt with by specially trained investigators conversant with modern techniques in identifying offences, evidence-gathering, forensics, and crime-scene management.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) sexual harassment referrals there were from the armed forces in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013; how many such cases were directed for trial; how many trials were held; how many guilty verdicts were recorded; what the gender was of each person so referred to in the cases; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Army: Bullying

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by the Army in response to the Service Complaints Commissioner's report 2012 on cases of bullying; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Bullying is not tolerated in the Ministry of Defence and when an allegation is made it is fully investigated.
	Although there were no specific recommendations in the Service Complaints Commissioner's report of 2012 about bullying, the Army continues to develop and promote the measures it already has in place to reduce, and deal with complaints of, bullying. These measures include:
	The Army Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Helpline, which assists individuals in resolving their issues at the lowest level, or provides advice on how to make a formal complaint if required.
	The Army Mediation Service, which is available to assist individuals in resolving bullying, harassment and diversity issues.
	Climate Assessments which assist commanders in understanding the equality and diversity climate of their unit, and the lived experiences of soldiers in order to identify and resolve issues.
	Bespoke training packages such as 'Respect for Others Training', which has quadrupled in attendance by soldiers since its introduction in 2011.
	Expansion of a customized Equality and Diversity training package, which has been included in all senior non-commissioned officer command, leadership and management courses, and will be introduced to junior non-commissioned officer command, leadership and management courses in the future.
	The introduction of a cyber bullying policy on 26 January 2014.

Army: Complaints

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the causes of the four per cent rise in complaints of discrimination, harassment or bullying in the service environment by army other ranks in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Although the level of formal complaints has remained largely unchanged from the findings of the 2012 armed forces continuous attitude survey, the 2013 survey showed an increase of 4% in army other ranks personnel reporting that they had experienced instances of bullying, harassment or discrimination in the previous 12 months.
	The Ministry of Defence’s equality and diversity strategy is designed to raise awareness and encourage personnel to have the confidence to speak out whenever they have experienced or witness instances of bullying, harassment or discrimination. Since 2011, the number of soldiers receiving education in this area has quadrupled.
	The Army takes all allegations of mistreatment seriously and all substantive allegations are investigated. Where there is evidence that unacceptable behaviour has been taking place, there are robust procedures in place to deal with this appropriately.

Army: Training

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 10 February 2014, Official Report, columns 470-71W, on army: training, what assessment he has made of the effect on future capability of infantry and Parachute Regiment recruit training courses being run at less than full capacity.

Mark Francois: The Army is in the process of changing to its Army 2020 structure and size. The reduction in trained strength has been taken into account in our manpower planning and the Army remains confident that the infantry and Parachute Regiment will continue to meet their current commitments.

Army: Training

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 10 February 2014, Official Report, columns 470-71W, on army: training, what steps are being taken to ensure that the position will improve in 2014-15.

Anna Soubry: We are currently taking a number of steps to improve recruiting performance in order to increase the numbers of those entering training in 2014-15 and beyond. These include the major recruiting campaign currently under way for Regular Army and Army Reserve personnel, “More Than Meets The Eye”, designed to highlight the variety of roles and skills available in the Army, an improved offer to Reservists, and a more efficient application and medical assessment process for all candidates.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Royal Navy assets to take part in NATO European Missile defence.

Mark Francois: Ballistic Missile Defence capability options including those for the Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyer will be considered as part of a future Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Caribbean

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to further improve the Royal Navy's anti-smuggling operations in the Caribbean.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a Royal Navy frigate or destroyer and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to the Caribbean under the Atlantic Patrol Task (North). These vessels conduct anti-smuggling operations in close co-operation with international partners as part of their wider tasking in the region. These deployments are supplemented with other Royal Navy ships as they transit through the area en-route to, or from, other operational deployments. We will seek to continue these commitments where resources and availability of ships permit.
	We are also working to improve our co-operation with regional partners. For example, we have recently concluded an agreement with the US Coast Guard to allow their helicopters to operate from a RFA vessel. On 22 January 2014 a US Coast Guard helicopter operating from RFA Wave Knight participated in a counter-narcotics operation resulting in a seizure of 1.3 metric tonnes of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of £60 million.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2013, Official Report, columns 706-7W, on conflict resolution: females, what recent progress his Department has made on implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Mark Francois: holding answer 13 February 2014
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of International Development and civil society on the implementation of UNSCR 1325, its associated resolutions and other women, peace and security programmes, including the Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative. The MOD is currently working on the new National Action Plan that will be launched during spring 2014 and will cover out to 2017. It will look to build on the success of the previous National Action Plans to embed firmly the principles covering women, peace and security in operational planning and training.

DA Notices

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 351W, on Defence advisory notices, whether he intends to make the Defence advisory notice system compulsory.

Anna Soubry: The scope and conduct of a review into the future of the Defence advisory notice system has not yet been decided, but there is no predetermined intention to introduce a compulsory system.

Defence Academy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the teaching materials used in the delivery of the Senior Responsible Owners Programme run by the Defence Academy.

Anna Soubry: The disclosure of the teaching materials used in the delivery of the Senior Responsible Owners Programme would prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence and Cranfield University. I am unable to place a copy in the Library of the House; however, I have placed a summary of the course programme for your information.

Defence Academy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the teaching materials used in the delivery of the Defence Strategic Portfolio and Programme Management run by the Defence Academy.

Anna Soubry: Full disclosure of the teaching materials used in the delivery of the Defence Strategic Portfolio and Programme Management would prejudice the commercial interests of Cranfield University. I am unable to place a copy of their documents in the Library of the House; however, I have placed a summary of the course programme owned by the Ministry of Defence for your information.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will take a decision on the future of the Defence Support Group at Ashchurch and its facilities. [R]

Philip Dunne: A decision on reproviding facilities for the future support of Defence vehicles is planned for spring 2014.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), on 17 July 2013, Official Report, columns 770-71W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military resources are currently available for immediate use by the British Government on the Falkland Islands.

Mark Francois: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend, the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 25 March 2013, Official Report, columns 930-1W) to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy). That information remains current except that the VC10K air to air refuelling tanker has been replaced by a Tri-Star aircraft of a similar capability.
	The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its force posture to ensure that it is appropriate to the level of threat faced. I am therefore satisfied that we have sufficient military assets in the region to ensure the Islands' territorial integrity and security.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British military activity increased in Gibraltar and surrounding waters following border incursions by Spanish government vessels; and whether his Department has made increased military resources available in that area in the last six months.

Mark Francois: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in the House of Lords by my noble Friend, the Under Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Astor of Hever on 29 January 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA234, to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Odyssey Marine Exploration regarding the excavation of HMS Victory 1744; and what was discussed at each such meeting.

Anna Soubry: Following the notification by Odyssey Marine Exploration of the possible discovery of Victory 1744, meetings have been held at official level with regards to developing the heritage solution. There is no central record held of these meetings.

ICT

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the development of the Automated Logistic Information System (ALIS); and if he will make a statement on what part ALIS plays in his Department's IT rationalisation programme.

Philip Dunne: The Automated Logistics Information System (ALIS) is a bespoke information system which is required to operate the Joint Strike Fighter as an integral part of the air system. The UK has been heavily involved in the development of ALIS to ensure it is fully compatible with current and future information systems used by the Ministry of Defence.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the in-service date for the first tranche of F35 Joint Combat Aircraft will be.

Philip Dunne: The In Service Date for the UK's F-35 Lightning II Aircraft is scheduled for 2018.

Marchwood Military Port

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the successful bidder in the competition to purchase the lease for the site of his Department's Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood, in New Forest East, will be required to make a full planning application for any change of use; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 4 February 2014
	At this point in the bidding process, it is not yet known how the bidders will seek to develop the Marchwood site for commercial use. Consequently, any discussion or further statement on the scale of development would, at this stage, be speculative.
	I can, however, confirm that the MOD has no intention to seek to remove from the successful bidder, any planning obligation which that bidder may expect to encounter. It is for the Local Planning Authority to consider the application of any Permitted Development rights under the 1995 Order or the removal thereof by means of an Article 4 Direction.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what audible warning the Honeywell Traffic Collision Avoidance System II will give in an imminent collision scenario.

Philip Dunne: As two suitably-equipped aircraft approach one another, their crews will hear the words, ‘traffic, traffic', If there is a risk of collision the Honeywell Traffic Collision Avoidance System II will direct the crews to manoeuvre to avoid a collision and they will subsequently hear either the instruction: ‘climb, climb now,' or alternatively, ‘descend, descend now.' Once the aircraft have achieved safe separation, the crews will hear the words ‘level off'.

Military Bases: USA

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) role, (b) training, (c) extent of duty to investigate compliance with UK law, (d) line of command and (e) reporting obligations are of the RAF commander and senior liaison officer at each US base in the UK. [R]

Mark Francois: The role of the RAF Commander is to provide advice to the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) through the US Base Commander, and to be Head of Establishment for Ministry of Defence employees working at USVF bases. The role of the Senior RAF Liaison Officer (SRAFLO) is to provide advice to the USVF, through the Director of the United States Air Force in the UK.
	RAF Commanders and the SRAFLO are selected on the basis of their previous experience and display a broad skill set, and undertake specialist courses as required.
	RAF Commanders and the SRAFLO continually monitor issues that may affect the interests of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and UK Government, and can seek advice from HQ Air Command or Central Legal staffs on any matters relating to UK law. RAF Commanders report directly to the SRAFLO, who in turn reports to RAF High Wycombe and upwards to HQ Air Command.
	Reporting obligations on RAF Commanders and the SRAFLO include policy matters affecting the organisation and deployment of the USVF, potential changes to operations at a particular location and security issues that may impinge upon MOD and UK Government interests.

Military Bases: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the findings of the studies carried out in 2010 into moving the headquarters of 15 Brigade from Imphal Barracks, York to (a) Bourlon Barracks, Catterick and (b) Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall were on the (i) feasibility and (ii) cost of moving the headquarters; what estimate he made of how many staff Catterick and Strensall could accommodate; for what reasons it was decided not to move the headquarters; and if he will place a copy of these studies in the Library

Andrew Murrison: The work to examine and implement the rationalisation of the Army’s non-deployable regional brigade and divisional structure was undertaken as part of Project Avanti. The project reported in 2011 and the outcomes were included in the Defence transformation statement of 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 66-70WS.
	The option to relocate headquarters 15 Brigade to Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall was ruled out at an early stage in the project on space and capacity grounds. The possibility of moving the headquarters to Bourlon Barracks, Catterick and merging with Catterick Garrison headquarters was explored in more detail to establish whether such a merger could result in efficiencies. However, it was determined that there was no existing suitable office accommodation available at that time and the cost of converting other accommodation was not commensurate with the savings we could achieve. This option was therefore not developed any further.
	I am happy to consider placing a copy of the Avanti report in the Library of the House. A review of the information requested is being conducted with regard to its suitability for release. I will write to the hon. Member shortly, once this assessment is complete.
	Substantive answer from Andrew Murrison to Hugh Bayley:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 16 December 2013 (Official Report, column 477W) about the relocation of the Headquarters of 15 Brigade from York to Catterick or Strensall.
	The work to review the document is now complete and I have taken the decision not to release the report into the Library of the House. This is because the document contains information on both the original and future Army structures and the outputs and operations of the Divisions, London District and the Brigades. This information relates to the formulation of Government Policy, the outcome of which was announced as part of the Defence Transformation announcement on 18 July 2011 (Official Report, column 66WS).

Navy: Offenders

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rehabilitation periods for individuals with criminal records who wish to apply to join the Royal Navy are; and what plans he has to review them.

Andrew Murrison: All applicants to the Royal Navy are subject to the requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The rehabilitation periods are published by the Ministry of Justice. This paper can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/rehabilitation/rehabilitation-offenders.pdf

Pay

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's employees are paid more than (a) £250,000, (b) £200,000, (c) £150,000 and (d) £100,000 a year.

Anna Soubry: holding answer 27 January 2014
	There are no civilian employees in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) who earn more than £250,000 a year. The following table details the numbers of employees who are paid more than £100,000, £150,000 and £200,000 a year.
	
		
			 Basic salary Number of MOD civilians 
			 Over £100,000 to £150,000 24 
			 Over £150,000 to £200,000 5 
			 Over £200,000 2 
			   
			 Total 31 
		
	
	The MOD employs 62,000 civilians overall. The number of people paid above £100,000 is 0.05% of the overall work force. On 31 March 2010, the number of civil servants earning over £100,000 was 61 compared to 31 now.

Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many public appointments his Department made in the last 12 months; how many such appointments are remunerated posts; what the level of such remuneration is; and how many people so appointed are (a) women and (b) men.

Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 301W.

Redundancy

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 552W, on redundancy, what the job title and salary is of each post filled by individuals re-hired by his Department.

Anna Soubry: The requested information on the 44 permanent civilian staff that left the Ministry of Defence under the terms of the Voluntary Early Release Scheme (VERS) and who were subsequently re-employed by the Department is provided in the following table. 29 were re-employed on a permanent basis. The remaining 15 were re-employed on fixed-term or casual contracts. Those who have been re-employed on a permanent or fixed-term basis will have been required to compete in fair and open competition for their new posts. Job titles used internally in the Ministry of Defence have not been provided as these can be used to identify individuals.
	It should be noted that those re-hired represents just 0.1 % of the civilian work force reduction of 33,000.
	
		
			 Re-employed on a permanent basis (29) 
			 Grade Number of employees Pay scale minimum Pay scale maximum 
			 E2 (Admin Assistant) 3 15,779 17,760 
			 Skill Zone 2 3 16,647 18,190 
			 Skill Zone 3 1 18,190 22,372 
			 El (Admin Officer) 12 18,554 20,883 
			 D (Executive Officer) 3 23,661 28,253 
			 C2 (Higher Executive Officer) 4 29,551 35,285 
			 C1 (Senior Executive Officer) 3 36,004 42,991 
		
	
	
		
			 Re-employed on a fixed-term or casual contract (15) 
			 Grade Number of employees Pay scale minimum Pay scale maximum 
			 E2 (Admin Assistant) 3 15,779 17,760 
			 Skill Zone 2 1 16,647 18,190 
			 Skill Zone 3 2 18,190 22,372 
			 El (Admin Officer) 4 18,554 20,883 
			 Teacher 1 21,588 31,552 
			 D (Executive Officer) 2 23,661 28,253 
			 Threshold Teacher 2 34,181 36,755

Royal Regiment of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment belonging to the Royal Regiment of Scotland is being stored at Stirling Castle.

Philip Dunne: No equipment belonging to the Royal Regiment of Scotland is currently being stored at Stirling Castle.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he and his Department have had with defence companies regarding the Scottish Independence referendum.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has engaged with a range of external stakeholders in the context of the UK Government's Scotland analysis programme and the Scottish independence referendum.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Anna Soubry: As an equal opportunities employer, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to meeting its obligations under the relevant legislation.
	Information held on the declared ethnicity of recruited civilian staff is presented by financial year (FY) in the following table. However, MOD staff are not compelled to declare their ethnicity, and therefore, accurate or complete figures are not held.
	
		
			 Recruitment by ethnicity declaration 
			  FY 2010-11 FY 2011-12 FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 (to 31 Jan 2014) Total 
			 White 1,030 310 340 770 2,440 
			 Black and Minority Ethnicity (BME) 60 30 20 40 150 
			 Total 1,090 340 360 810 2,600 
			       
			 BME (%) 5.5 7.7 6.7 5.0 5.8 
			 Notes: 1. Ethnicity figures are based on active self-declaration and exclude personnel who have either not responded or who have actively chosen not to declare. 2. Figures include all Trading Fund personnel, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and Locally Engaged Civilians for whom these data are not available. 3. ‘White’ includes all personnel with a self-declared status of White. ‘British White’ is a nationality category which cannot be separately identified within the Department's self-declared ethnicity data. 4. Figures have been individually rounded to the nearest 10, and may not precisely match totals. Percentages have been calculated from unrounded numbers. 
		
	
	The MOD publishes a biannual breakdown of diversity statistics which contains a wide-ranging analysis across all diversity categories. The next publication is due on 29 May 2014, and a link to this series can be found at the following web address:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/combined/diversity-dashboard

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 173W, on unmanned air vehicles, if he will place in the Library a copy of the recently declassified study on stress carried out by Dr Wayne Cappelle. [R]

Mark Francois: A copy of the publicly available study is available at the following link:
	http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA577055

Vehicles

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to tender for the Government Vehicle Lease framework.

Philip Dunne: Businesses of any size can register as potential suppliers for the Government Vehicle Lease Framework, which is operated and managed by the new Crown Commercial Service (CCS).
	CCS has been created as a single Government organisation to improve the quality of commercial and procurement activity across the public sector in the provision of common goods and services. It is committed to ensuring that small organisations and businesses can compete fairly with bigger companies for Government contracts and aims to attract as much competition as possible from good suppliers of all sizes in the marketplace, including small and medium sized enterprises.
	Further information about becoming a supplier for such arrangements can be found on the CCS website:
	http://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/i-am-supplier

Veterans: Employment

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 350W, on veterans: employment, what steps he is taking to increase the number of armed forces service leavers who use the Career Transition Partnership.

Anna Soubry: Service personnel access the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) according to their transition needs, but it is not mandated. The CTP contractor is responsible for making personnel aware of the resettlement offer and works closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to achieve this.
	The MOD has recently widened the CTP support to personnel who leave having served less than four years. This ensures that all of our Service leavers have access to our robust resettlement system.
	In 2015 the contract with the CTP is due to be re-let. We are currently assessing whether any changes need to be made. While the support offered to Service personnel is extensive and largely effective, there may well be areas which could be improved. This work will take into account the recommendations recently made by Lord Ashcroft in his Veterans Transition Review which reported earlier this month.

Veterans: Redundancy Pay

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid out in redundancy and resettlement grants to former military personnel in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has incurred expenditure on redundancy payments and resettlement grants for military personnel in each of the past five financial years as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Redundancy payments Resettlement grants1 
			 2008-09 0 11.5 
			 2009-10 0 9.0 
			 2010-11 0 10.8 
			 2011-12 110 16.7 
			 2012-13 140 25.2 
			 1 This figure covers resettlement grants paid both as part of normal exit packages and as part of compensation packages for redundancy, where the entitlement exists. 
		
	
	While reduced recruiting and fewer extensions of service will account for some of the reductions arising from the 2010 strategic defence and security review decision on the future size and shape of the regular armed forces, a redundancy programme is needed to ensure the right balance of skills for the future is maintained across the rank structures. We are providing as much support as possible to those personnel being made redundant.
	We estimate that, by 2021-22, we will have achieved cumulative savings of some £23 billion as a result of reductions in military and civilian personnel and greater efficiency in the conduct of non-front line activities.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Environmental Protection

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that all agricultural environmental programmes include strict predator control on a condition.

George Eustice: Agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship do not currently provide funding for predator control. However, there is growing evidence that predation by foxes can adversely affect ground-nesting bird populations, particularly lowland breeding waders. As a result, as part of the work to develop a new environmental land management scheme we are currently considering new fencing options to help protect these species. This should be available from 2016. We are also funding novel research worth £200,000 on habitat manipulation to reduce fox predation on lapwings and redshank.

Angling

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help angling clubs in (a) west Lancashire and (b) England tackle the decline in fish stocks.

George Eustice: The status of fish stocks varies by species and location. While some fish, such as salmon and eel have declined to low levels across England, many other stocks are known to be good. Assessments undertaken to meet water framework directive requirements show that, of the water bodies classified for fish in England, just over 48% are at good status or better.
	The Environment Agency regulates fishing to maintain and improve sustainable fisheries. It does this by protecting stocks from illegal fishing and other fisheries crime, responding to fish kills and rescuing fish in distress, monitoring fish stocks to identify where individual fisheries may be at risk, and improving habitats for fish. The Environment Agency works closely with local angling clubs, among others, to achieve this.

Boilers

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to support people who move from a liquid petroleum gas boiler to a conventional boiler.

Michael Fallon: Ofgem is responsible for regulating connections and extension of the gas grid. They are also generally responsible for agreeing the pricing mechanism that underpins the funding of the connection. The cost of connecting to a gas mains supply is dependent on the type of connection, the distance of the site from the existing network and site-specific issues e.g. difficulty of terrain, planning restrictions.
	The Domestic Load Connection Allowance is available to customers within 23 metres of an existing gas distribution network (GDN). The first 10 metres of the connection on public land are free to the householder, with the cost recovered from all other customers through general network charges on bills.
	The Assisted Gas Connection Scheme requires the operators of the four regional GDNs to connect around 77,000 fuel poor households to the gas grid over the current eight-year price control period (2013-21). There is a limit on the maximum funding available for each connection, with the householder or partner organisation (e.g. a local authority) asked to pay the remaining costs.
	It is also important to support consumers, especially those on low incomes, where conversion to gas central heating is not possible. In this context we will be consulting on possible changes to the Energy Company Obligation, which sits alongside the Green Deal. In particular, we will consult on how best to create an incentive for measures under the Affordable Warmth part of the scheme—which includes boiler repair and replacement—to be delivered in non-gas fuelled homes. Further means of supporting low-income non-gas fuelled households will also be considered as part of our draft fuel poverty strategy later this year.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of whether a vaccination programme against TB would be cheaper per infected badger than culling.

George Eustice: We will publish an updated estimate of the economic costs and benefits of culling when we make a decision on wider roll-out.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 692W, on bovine tuberculosis, what assessment his Department has made of methods other than culling for tackling bovine tuberculosis; and what steps he plans to take to provide the farming industry with more information about those methods.

George Eustice: Badger culling is only one part of our programme for tackling bovine TB. We will use every tool available including tougher movement controls for cattle, better biosecurity on farms and we will continue working to develop effective and usable cattle and badger vaccines. We continue to make good progress on all aspects of our strategic aim of achieving TB-freedom for England by 2038. We will be publishing the final version of our strategy in due course.

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA offices are assessed as either being required to deliver departmental functions (forming the core estate) or surplus to this requirement (non-core).
	DEFRA's priority for surplus holdings is to reduce property costs by exiting leasehold agreements, selling freeholds or by sub-letting to external tenants.
	For more efficient marketing of surplus land and buildings, the Government Property Unit has created a portal—Find Me Some Government Space:
	https://www.gov.uk/find-government-property
	This is searchable by developers, community groups and the general public.

Cattle: Transport

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of (a) cattle and (b) other livestock which have been moved as a result of recent floods; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such movement on the spread of bovine TB.

George Eustice: Initial analysis shows that approximately 1,500 to 1,600 cattle in the south-west were evacuated as a result of the recent flooding. All cattle in high risk areas that must be moved because of floodwater are required to be post-movement TB tested following isolation on the new holding, unless they recently underwent testing for the disease. This is normal practice in circumstances where pre-movement testing of cattle is unsafe for any reason or when the welfare of the animals dictates that the move needs to happen immediately.

Coastal Areas: Flood Control

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds are available for heightening of sea walls to protect against flooding.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA flood defence capital Grant-in-Aid is available for flood defence improvement projects, including the heightening of sea walls. £344 million has been allocated to work on projects in 2014-15. From 2015-16 DEFRA will be making £370 million available for such capital improvement projects and then the same each year in real terms until 2020-21.

Coastal Areas: Flood Control

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to ensure adequate flood defences are in place in coastal regions.

Dan Rogerson: On 6 February 2014 the Environment Agency published its flood and coastal defence improvements programme for 2014-15. An additional £130 million has been made available for the Environment Agency to support its response to the winter floods. This will help to ensure that critical defences are in the necessary condition as soon as possible. Urgent repairs on coastal defences began during the coastal surge on 5 December 2013 and are continuing.

Common Fisheries Policy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK’s position was on permitting EU nations to purchase fishing rights from other EU nations; and which UK fishing rights have been sold under such provision to other countries.

George Eustice: During recent negotiations to reform the common fisheries policy (CFP), the UK successfully opposed the introduction of European Commission proposals that would have enabled the trading of fishing rights between EU member states. The UK was clear that the new CFP should respect the right of member states to make arrangements to manage their quotas and fishing opportunities in a way that best fits their own circumstances.
	No UK fishing rights have been sold to other countries.

Databases

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many healthy herds have been miscategorised as infected with bovine TB due to the AHVLA SAM IT failure.

George Eustice: The data classification problems identified by AHLVA only affected the reporting of bovine TB statistics, in particular the number of herds coming out of restriction. A full explanation was included in the monthly publication of National Statistics on the Incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) in Cattle to end November 2013 for Great Britain, released in 12 February. No restrictions have been placed on any herd as a result of the data classification problems.

Deer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with landowners and farmers about deer management groups.

George Eustice: Wildlife management is a devolved matter. In England, DEFRA has not held any recent discussions with landowners and farmers about deer management groups. Advice on deer management groups is provided by the Deer Initiative.

Environment Agency

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost-benefit ratio he requires the Environment Agency to meet when carrying out flood protection schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Flood defences schemes with a benefit cost ratio greater than one are eligible to receive a contribution from DEFRA’s capital flood defence grant in aid.

Environment Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many planning applications have been given (a) standing advice and (b) bespoke advice by the Environment Agency in each local authority area; and what his estimate is in each of the years after 2014.

Dan Rogerson: This information is not held centrally and it would not be possible to collate it in the time available. In 2012-13, the Environment Agency responded to 24,984 planning applications in England using bespoke responses. No estimate has been made of how many applications the Environment Agency might be consulted on in future years.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Dan Rogerson: The total expenditure, number and cost of people specifically employed to promote diversity and equality in the core Department for the last five years is as shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Full time equivalent staff numbers (FTE) Cost of people employed (£) Total core Department expenditure (£) 
			 2009-10 3 198,232 460,893 
			 2010-11 3 167,430 342,034 
			 2011-12 1 26,047 1— 
			 2012-13 2.5 111,003 105,742 
			 2013-31 January 2014 2 102,289 152,836 
			 1 Not known—in 2011-12 non-pay costs attributable to diversity and equality promotion were not separately identifiable, therefore total expenditure on promoting Diversity and Equality cannot be calculated.

Flood Control

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on flood defences in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Dan Rogerson: Flood risk management is a devolved issue. DEFRA does not keep figures on the amount spent on flood defences for the whole of the UK.

Flood Control

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement of 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 24, on flooding, what participation (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have had.

Dan Rogerson: My ministerial colleagues, senior officials and I have maintained regular contact throughout the current flooding emergency with front-line services including the Environment Agency, fire and rescue services, utility companies and local authorities. We are also working with the Association of British Insurers and insurance companies to ensure people get the help they need as quickly as possible.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the system of allocation of funding for flood defences and the current division of such funding between capital and revenue; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Separate overall departmental resource and capital budgets are agreed with HM Treasury at spending reviews. Departments may not switch provision from capital budgets to resource budgets; such switches would mean that money that had been earmarked for investment was used for current spending.
	I recognise the importance of the Environment Agency's work on maintaining defences, which is why I have protected the Environment Agency's floods budget from the 1% savings DEFRA was asked to find; following the 2013 autumn statement and provided an additional £130 million for emergency repairs and maintenance. The extra funding will cover costs incurred during the current emergency response and recovery, as well as essential repairs to ensure that defences are maintained.

Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with telecommunications companies on facilitating the roll-out of opt out telephone flood warning schemes to all homes and businesses liable to flooding, including those with ex-directory numbers; and what proportion of households in flood risk areas are now covered by telephone flood warning schemes.

Dan Rogerson: Progress against this recommendation was set out in “The Government's Response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review of the summer 2007 Floods-Final Progress Report”, which was published on 27 January 2012.
	At the end of March 2013 62% of households and businesses in the highest risk flood risk areas in England and Wales are able to receive direct warnings from the Environment Agency.

Floods : Berkshire

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency will take to investigate the extent to which the management of the Jubilee River contributed to recent water levels in the lower Thames region.

Dan Rogerson: Environment Agency staff regularly inspect flood defence structures, including the Jubilee river. The river protects 3,200 properties. It operates so that flood levels up or downstream of the protected area are not adversely affected. Three independent reports have confirmed that the Jubilee river does not increase flood risk elsewhere.

Floods: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of likely increases in sea levels affecting Bournemouth East constituency in the next (a) 25, (b) 50 and (c) 100 years; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Sea level predictions relevant to this constituency were published in July 2011, in the Hurst Spit to Durlston Head Shoreline Management Plan. The Environment Agency will shortly be publishing the Poole Bay, Poole Harbour and Wareham Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy, which will provide a more refined view, taking into consideration national climate change guidance.
	During public consultation on the new strategy sea level increases were expressed as follows:
	Taking the UK climate projections 2009 data the predictions are for 25, 50 and 100 years from a baseline in 1990 are:
	
		
			 mm 
			  Low scenario Medium scenario High scenario 
			 2039 214 261 316 
			 2064 355 434 528 
			 21001 596 732 893 
			 1 Projections beyond 2100 are not currently available 
		
	
	The sea walls on the Bournemouth sea front form part of an integrated system of coastal protection, primarily against erosion of the land by the sea, protecting nearly 3,000 cliff-top properties. The strategy proposal is to maintain the beach to protect the old sea wall, the promenade and the cliff. Funding for beach management is supported by the strategy and has an allocation in the published Medium Term Plan.

Floods: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value of the damage to flood and coastal defences in Copeland constituency caused by recent floods and storms is; and what funds his Department is providing for repairs.

Dan Rogerson: The total damage to flood and coastal defences caused by the floods and storms in the Copeland constituency is currently in the region of £600,000. The Environment Agency continues to work in partnership with Copeland Borough Council (CBC) to assess defence repair costs to all assets along the coast including Environment Agency and local authority owned and maintained assets.
	CBC has received £324,000 in Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid funding to repair damage to the Whitehaven harbour wall, which provides protection to both people and property in the town centre. This work is ongoing. Additional Grant-in-Aid funding of £40,000 has been received to carry out repairs to defences maintained by the Environment Agency.
	The local authority continues to assess damage to assets and the repair works are currently estimated to require a further £250,000. We are working closely with CBC in securing funding for these urgent works.

Floods: Insurance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the new Flood Re scheme will cover the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: The Association of British Industry advise that buildings cover for landlords in the private rented sector would not be eligible for the Flood Re Scheme because these policies are classified as commercial policies by the insurance industry. However, contents insurance for tenants in the private rented sector, with the exception of those in Band H properties or those built after 2009, would be included.

Floods: Insurance

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he is making on the launch of the Flood Re scheme; when the launch of the scheme is expected; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: The Government and insurance industry are working together with the aim of introducing Flood Re by summer 2015.
	We are currently developing an implementation timetable and putting in place the necessary secondary legislation, on which we plan to consult over the summer. This timetable is challenging and includes the need for Prudential Regulation Authority approval and state aid approval from the European Commission. However, DEFRA and the Association of British Insurers continue to work together to ensure the delivery of the Flood Re scheme in 2015 as planned.

Floods: Insurance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  why small businesses are not included in the Flood Re scheme;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the financial effect of the exclusion of small businesses from the Flood Re scheme;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with (a) other Departments and (b) external stakeholders on whether small businesses should be included in the Flood Re scheme.

Dan Rogerson: The Flood Re scheme has been specifically designed to provide affordable flood insurance to domestic policyholders who will also fund it. It would be inappropriate to ask domestic policyholders to subsidise insurance for small businesses.
	The scheme is not suitable for commercial properties. In general, business insurance policies are often bespoke and already priced to risk, as opposed to the household insurance market where a cross-subsidy has historically been in place. A survey of over 9,000 businesses in England estimated that less than 1% of them had experienced difficulty getting property insurance in the last year due to the risk of flooding and that no businesses had been refused insurance cover due to the risk of flooding. This view was supported in the consultation on Flood Re and in discussions with other Departments.
	We have held regular discussion with the ABI, representatives of small businesses and other Government Departments and will continue to work with them as we monitor the insurance market for small businesses and keep the issue under review.

Floods: River Thames

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the current timescale for extending the River Thames Scheme to Teddington; and if he will make it his policy to fast-track such an extension.

Dan Rogerson: The timescale for approval of the proposed River Thames (Datchet to Teddington) scheme has not been set. DEFRA will consider this in liaison with HMT and the Cabinet Office Major Projects Authority as part of its review of the Environment Agency's Strategic Business Case for the work, which we expect to receive in the spring.

Floods: River Thames

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Environment Agency on the proposed extension of the River Thames Scheme to Teddington.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency presented its case for the River Thames scheme to a Cabinet Office Major Projects Authority-led project validation review on 10 December 2013, to which DEFRA contributed. DEFRA is represented on River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington) Programme Board which last met on 23 January 2014.

Floods: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on flood defence measures in Shrewsbury in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.

Dan Rogerson: £2,895,650 has been spent in Shrewsbury over the last four years. The total capital spend was £2,462,000.
	In 2010-11, £2.4 million was spent on the Coleham Head flood risk management scheme and £62,000 on property level protection schemes.
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
			 2010-11 92,650 
			 2011-12 95,000 
			 2012-13 101,000 
			 2013-14 145,000 
			 Total maintenance spend 433,650

Floods: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much is forecast to be spent on flood defence measures in Shrewsbury in each of the next five years.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency is working with partners to finalise future capital investments with a view to publishing a six-year pipeline of flood and coastal erosion risk management work later in the year.

Floods: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what schemes the Environment Agency West Midlands has planned for flood defences in Shrewsbury over the next five years.

Dan Rogerson: A number of projects are planned in Shrewsbury over the next five years:
	Bomere Heath—to improve the drainage network around Bomere Heath. Project programmed to begin in 2015.
	The Grove, Minsterley—individual property level protection scheme and improvements to the highway drains. Project programmed to begin in 2014-15.
	Battlefield Road, Shrewsbury and Hadnall—individual property level protection schemes. Project programmed to begin in 2014-15.
	Longdon and Coleham areas—individual property protection for 30 properties that do not benefit from flood defences in Shrewsbury. Project programmed to begin in 2016-17.
	Woodlands for Water—initiative to identify priority areas in the Severn catchment where woodland will reduce flood risk and slow water down for communities over the next five years. This scheme will take a number of years to implement and will be established using a wide range of partners and landowners that need to be involved.

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement on 24 May 2012, Official Report, column 83WS, on Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), what steps have been taken to introduce repayment orders to the operations of the GLA; and if he make a statement.

George Eustice: The GLA has no plans to seek powers to issue restoration notices under the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 (RES Act 2008).
	A statement to Parliament by the Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in November 2012 clarified guidance on the use by regulators of civil sanctions under the RES Act 2008. Powers to impose restoration notices will, as a general rule, only be granted where their use is restricted to undertakings with more than 250 employees. The great majority of businesses regulated by the GLA have fewer than 250 employees and it is therefore inappropriate to introduce these powers.

Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the ability of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain independently to enforce the Greyhound Regulations 2010 at tracks.

George Eustice: It is planned that the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 will be reviewed next year, including how effectively they are being enforced.

Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many greyhound tracks there are operating in England.

George Eustice: While we do not hold a central record of the number of greyhound tracks in England, there are understood to be approximately 30 operating. Detailed records will be held by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and each local authority that has a greyhound track(s) in their area.

Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain on (i) the welfare of racing greyhounds and (ii) the numbers of racing greyhounds destroyed for economic or welfare reasons over the last 10 years.

George Eustice: We do not hold records of meetings going back 10 years. DEFRA officials met representatives of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) several times during the drafting of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010. More recently, DEFRA officials met with representatives of the GBGB in October 2013. DEFRA Ministers have not met with GBGB representatives since 2010.

Greyhound Racing

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for failure to protect the needs of racing greyhounds.

George Eustice: Records of prosecutions made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 do not include the animal or activity involved.

Greyhounds: Imports

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to enforce the Balai directive among the greyhound industry when importing greyhounds from the Republic of Ireland.

George Eustice: All dogs imported for commercial purposes into the UK from any European Union (EU) country must meet the requirements of the Balai directive, (92/65/EEC) which lays down rules for animals not covered by other EU legislation. The competent authorities in the Republic of Ireland are responsible for ensuring that greyhounds sent to the UK fully comply with the requirements of the directive.
	We already take steps to check compliance with all EU legislation that establishes the health assurances needed for animals moving between EU member states. EU rules allow for random non-discriminatory checks to be made on animals that arrive from another member state; these checks are carried out at the premises of destination by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

Horses: Transport

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that animal welfare legislation is enforced in the transportation of equine species from the UK to other countries.

George Eustice: As a member state of the European Union, the UK is obliged to respect laws governing the movement of animals throughout the Union. EU laws are intended to promote free movement between member states. In line with this legislation and in relation to exports, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (an Executive agency of DEFRA) undertake risk based inspections at the place of departure. They will also undertake stringent checks at ports where there are good grounds to believe that rules are being breached which may represent a risk to the health and welfare of equines.

Land: Contamination

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contaminated land sites there are in England; and how much has been committed to each site under the Contaminated Land Capital Grants Scheme in each year since 2010-11.

George Eustice: The total number of sites in England where land is affected by contamination is not known. However, local authorities are required to maintain a record of all contaminated land sites that have been determined under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. A survey carried out by the Environment Agency in 2007 indicated that 659 sites had been formally determined as contaminated land under the Part 2A legislation in England.
	DEFRA has commissioned a new survey of the progress that local authorities have made under Part 2A, including sites determined since the last survey in 2007. The results will be published later in 2014.
	Since 2010, £18.8 million has been committed from the Contaminated Land Capital Grants Scheme to 275 potentially contaminated sites or sites determined as contaminated land under the Part 2A regime.

Land: Contamination

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under which criteria contaminated land is prioritised for assistance under the Contaminated Land Capital Grants Scheme.

George Eustice: The Environment Agency publishes eligibility and prioritisation criteria on its website. To be eligible for funding, bids must be for qualifying capital works that are technically appropriate, reasonable and provide value for money. For remediation, the site must be determined as contaminated land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and reasonable enquiries must have been completed to ensure that nobody else is liable to carry out, or pay for, the works required.
	For those bids that are eligible, the Environment Agency uses a published prioritisation tool to score and rank each bid. Prioritisation takes into account the following factors: project history, project type, what is being affected by the contamination (e.g. human health, property or the water environment), seriousness of the risk, scale of the impact and value for money.

Land: Contamination

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on unremediated contaminated land which presents an ongoing source of pollution to inland waterways.

Dan Rogerson: The overarching objectives of the Government's policy on contaminated land, as set out in the accompanying statutory guidance to Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, are:
	(a) To identify and remove unacceptable risks to human health and the environment (including where contamination has the potential to cause significant pollution of controlled waters).
	(b) To seek to ensure that contaminated land is made suitable for its current use.
	(c) To ensure that the burdens faced by individuals, companies and society as a whole are proportionate, manageable and compatible with the principles of sustainable development.

Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers.

Dan Rogerson: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   Private Office staff (FTE)  
			   AO EO HEO G7 G6 SCS Total Office size (square metres) 
			 Owen Paterson Secretary of State 0.60 1.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 0.50 6.10 52.14 
			 Dan Rogerson Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Agriculture and Food 0.50 1.00 2.00 1.00 — — 4.50 34.22 
			 George Eustice Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs 0.50 1.00 2.00 1.00 — — 4.50 58.15 
			 Lord de Mauley Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Resource Management, the Local Environment and Environmental Science 0.40 1.00 2.00 1.00 — — 4.40 50.79 
			           
			 Total  2.00 4.00 8.00 4.00 1.00 0.50 19.50 195.3

Northern Ireland

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assets his Department has sold in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the value of each such sale was.

Dan Rogerson: Core DEFRA holds no property assets in Northern Ireland and none have been sold there over the last five years.

Processed Food

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of labelling of processed food products.

George Eustice: European food law is clear that information on food labels must be accurate and must not mislead the consumer. This is reinforced in the new Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers (1169/2011). The bulk of these regulations come into effect on 13 December 2014.
	Enforcement of food law is undertaken by local authority trading standards and environmental health departments. In 2012 and 2013 local authority officers carried out 86,000 tests on food products to check their safety and authenticity. The Government has increased funding to support local authorities' delivery of the national coordinated sampling programme from £1.6 million to £2.2 million. This is in addition to the self-funded sampling by local authorities.

Procurement

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings have been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend or underspend was in each such contract; and what steps his Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the contract award.

Dan Rogerson: The 10 largest contracts put in place by core DEFRA since April 2010 are:
	
		
			 Supplier's name Title 
			 Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd Sustainable built environment workplace support—Contract renegotiated and signed in 2012 
			 Shared Services Connected Ltd DEFRA contract under ISSC2 Framework Agreement—Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) 
			 Redfern Travel Ltd Business travel and accommodation 
			 Walter Lilly & Co Ltd Construction works at New Haw, Addlestone 
			 Specialist Computer Centres Ltd Common Agricultural Policy Delivery—Best value benchmarking for agile development services 
			 ICF Consulting Ltd Evidence Base Services for Energy Using Products 
			 Hitachi Consulting Common Agricultural Policy Delivery—Finance and HR systems development 
			 Specialist Computer Centres Ltd Common Agricultural Policy Delivery—Knowledge system development 
			 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP Provision of legal services 
			 South Western Business Process Outsourcing Electronic Database and Movement Reporting of Sheep, Goats and Deer 
		
	
	Two contracts have ended. The Walter Lilly & Co Ltd contract had a value of £8,336,100 and spend was £7,679,366. The Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP had a value of £3,056,000 and spend of £1,197,863. All figures exclude VAT.
	The estimated procurement savings on the South Western Business Process Outsourcing contract is just over £7 million over six years. The SSCL contract is expected to deliver savings of £19 million (in real terms) over seven years.
	The approach to contract management varies according to the nature of the contract, its value and the nature of the service provided. It can include some or all of the following:
	setting up of a specific contract management team;
	close contract management through regular meetings with the supplier; and
	the assessment of performance against key performance indicators and satisfaction indices.

Property

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him.

Dan Rogerson: The requested data is available via the Government's DATA.GOV.UK website:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims

Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the titles are of the individual public appointments that have been made by his Department since May 2010; and which of those appointees were women;
	(2)  which paid public appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men.

Dan Rogerson: I refer to the reply of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 607W.

Public Bodies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the indicative budget is of each of his Department's executive agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies for 2015-16, broken down by (a) capital and (b) revenue;
	(2)  what the Government contribution to the indicative budget of each of his Department's executive agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies is expected to be for 2015-16, broken down by capital and revenue.

Dan Rogerson: Indicative budgets for 2015-16 are incomplete at this time. Discussions are ongoing and the Department's Network Bodies are likely to receive formal allocation letters in late-2014.

Public Bodies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many (a) staff and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by each of his Department’s Executive agencies and Executive non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14;
	(2)  what changes to the total number of (a) staff and (b) full-time equivalent staff employed by each of his Department’s Executive agencies and Executive non-departmental public bodies are expected in 2014-15.

Dan Rogerson: The following table shows the number of staff (headcount) and the number of full-time equivalents employed in each of DEFRA’s Executive agencies and Executive non-departmental public bodies by financial year.
	
		
			  31 March 2010 31 March 2011 31 March 2012 31 March 2013 31 January 2014 
			  Staff FTE Staff FTE Staff FTE Staff FTE Staff FTE 
			 Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency1 2,992 2,800 2,819 2,622 2,523 2,355 2,342 2,180 2,306 2,155 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 562 534 549 513 552 520 577 542 575 542 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency 912 854 901 846 928 865 926 848 847 783 
			 Rural Payments Agency 3,133 2,936 2,722 2,521 2,541 2,348 2,272 2,102 2,392 2,213 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 162 153 156 151 156 150 152 150 169 164 
			 Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board n/a n/a 480 437 522 446 384 366 424 412 
			 Commission for Rural Communities2 78 75 66 66 4 4 2 2 — — 
			 Consumer Council for Water 85 83 77 75 68 66 74 70 75 74 
			 Environment Agency 12,829 12,313 11,690 11,194 11,471 10,984 12,295 11,765 11,525 11,010 
			 Gangmasters Licensing Authority 81 79 85 82 68 66 68 65 68 65 
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 149 118 150 136 160 146 175 161 176 162 
			 Marine Management Organisation3 240 233 250 244 280 276 321 315 308 301 
			 National Forest Company 21 19 20 19 17 15 17 15 19 17 
			 Natural England 2,862 2,694 2,679 2,519 2,289 2,158 2,413 2,279 2,569 2,426 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 695 656 663 624 665 629 724 682 786 743 
			 Sea Fish Industry Authority 95 93 72 72 72 72 84 84 91 91 
			 Sustainable Development Commission4 47 46 40 38 — — — — — — 
			 n/a = Not available. 1 The 31 March 2010 and 2011 figures are the total staff numbers for the Animal Health Executive Agency and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency which were separate organisations until 1 April 2011. 2 The Commission for Rural Communities was abolished on 31 March 2013. From 1 April 2011, the CRC significantly reduced its staffing levels and the scale of its operation. 3 The Marine and Fisheries Agency was subsumed into the Marine Management Organisation, a new Executive NDPB of DEFRA on 1 April 2010. 4 The Sustainable Development Commission closed on 31 March 2011. 
		
	
	DEFRA’s Executive agencies and Executive non-departmental public bodies are currently reviewing and updating work force plans and forecasts as part of the annual business planning cycle. We are, therefore, unable to provide forecasts of the number of staff (headcount) and the number of full-time equivalents for 2014-15 with any degree of accuracy until this has been completed.

Public Bodies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what income was received by each of his Department's expenditure agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies from non-government sources, broken down by source in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.

Dan Rogerson: A breakdown of the income received by each of the Department's Executive Agencies and non-departmental public bodies is set out in the notes to the appropriate organisation's Annual Report and Accounts in respect of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, which can be found at the following links.
	A breakdown of the income received in 2013-14 and 2014-15 will be set out in the organisations' Annual Report and Accounts for each year, which will be published in July 2014 and July 2015 respectively.
	Executive agencies
	Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
	2010-11:
	The merged organisation did not exist in 2010-11; there are instead separate sets of accounts for Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1144/1144.pdf
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1210/1210.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc04/0470/0470.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc05/0504/0504.pdf
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc10/1099/1099.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0216/0216.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/media/607532/cefas_ara_2012-13_web.pdf
	The Food and Environment Research Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1154/1154.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0180/0180.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246757/0210.pdf
	Rural Payments Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1231/1231.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0230/0230.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/15f3e119d8abcb5480256ef20049b53a/f7f198fb7f2d6f9f80257b9d0053ec1a/$FILE/RPA%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202012-13%20v1.0.pdf
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate
	2010-11:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep10.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep11.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep12.pdf
	Executive non-departmental public bodies
	Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
	2010-11:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/1093.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2011-12-WEBMASTER-20June2012_000.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2012-13WEBFINAL.pdf
	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1285/1285.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_061620.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_080464.pdf
	Commission for Rural Communities
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc13/1333/1333.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0205/0205.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc03/0350/0350.pdf
	Consumer Council for Water
	2010-11:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247371/1187.pdf
	2011-12:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247054/0197.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246743/0230.pdf
	Environment Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1269/1269.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geho0612bwpa-e-e.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/LIT_8472_6b598a.pdf
	Gangmasters Licensing Authority
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1221/1221.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0165/0165.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc01/0101/0101.pdf
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee
	2010-11:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/pub11_annualreport2011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/ar_20120331.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/JNCC_Annualreport_201213.pdf
	Marine Management Organisation
	2010-11:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1112.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annualreportaccounts1213.pdf
	National Forest Company
	2010-11:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2012.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2013.pdf
	Natural England
	2010-11:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/60018
	2011-12:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/1746825
	2012-13:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/6262867623936000
	Sea Fish Industry Authority
	2010-11:
	http://www.seafish.org/media/599639/seafish%20ar%202010-2011%20final%20signed.pdf
	2011-12:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246905/0624.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263986/0579.pdf

Public Bodies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution each of his Department's expenditure agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies made to the budget of (a) his Department and (b) HM Treasury in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15.

Dan Rogerson: None of DEFRA's Executive Agencies or non-departmental public bodies make a contribution to the Department's budget. Where Network Body income can be treated as Appropriations-in-Aid, the Department benefits as reduced departmental funding is needed. Where DEFRA provides corporate services to agencies and NDPBs, it is normal practice to charge.
	A number of Executive Agencies and non-departmental public bodies act as an agent for passing monies to HM Treasury from other sources—for example, for EU payments. However, other than such agent relationships, none of the Network Bodies make any significant contributions to HM Treasury's budget. Underspends are in certain circumstances returned to the Treasury at the year end.

Public Bodies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure was of each of his Department's expenditure agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15, broken by capital and revenue.

Dan Rogerson: Details of the total expenditure of each of the Department's executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, broken down by capital and revenue, are set out in the appropriate organisation's Annual Report and Accounts in respect of 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, which can be found at the following links.
	A breakdown of expenditure in 2013-14 and 2014-15 will be set out in the organisations' Annual Report and Accounts for each year, which will be published in July 2014 and July 2015 respectively.
	Executive agencies
	Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
	2010-11:
	The merged organisation did not exist in 2010-11; there are instead separate sets of accounts for Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1144/1144.pdf
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1210/1210.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc04/0470/0470.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc05/0504/0504.pdf
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc10/1099/1099.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0216/0216.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/media/607532/cefas_ara_2012-13_web.pdf
	The Food and Environment Research Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc11/1154/1154.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0180/0180.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246757/0210.pdf
	Rural Payments Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1231/1231.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0230/0230.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://rpa.defra.gov.uk/rpa/index.nsf/15f3e119d8abcb5480256ef20049b53a/f7f198fb7f2d6f9f80257b9d0053ec1a/$FILE/RPA%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202012-13%20v1.0.pdf
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate
	2010-11:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep10.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep11.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/vmdanrep12.pdf
	Executive non-departmental public bodies
	Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
	2010-11:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/1093.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2011-12-WEBMASTER-20June2012_000.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.ahdb.org.uk/publications/documents/AHDBAnnualReport2012-13WEBFINAL.pdf
	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1285/1285.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_061620.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/document/kppcont_080464.pdf
	Commission for Rural Communities
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc13/1333/1333.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc02/0205/0205.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc03/0350/0350.pdf
	Consumer Council for Water
	2010-11:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247371/1187.pdf
	2011-12:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247054/0197.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246743/0230.pdf
	Environment Agency
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1269/1269.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geho0612bwpa-e-e.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/LIT_8472_6b598a.pdf
	Gangmasters Licensing Authority
	2010-11:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc12/1221/1221.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc01/0165/0165.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1314/hc01/0101/0101.pdf
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee
	2010-11:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/pub11_annualreport2011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/ar_20120331.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/JNCC_Annualreport_201213.pdf
	Marine Management Organisation
	2010-11:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annual_report_accounts_1112.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/documents/annualreportaccounts1213.pdf
	National Forest Company
	2010-11:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2011.pdf
	2011-12:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2012.pdf
	2012-13:
	http://www.nationalforest.org/document/reports/ar2013.pdf
	Natural England
	2010-11:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/60018
	2011-12:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/1746825
	2012-13:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/6262867623936000
	Sea Fish Industry Authority
	2010-11:
	http://www.seafish.org/media/599639/seafish%20ar%202010-2011%20final%20signed.pdf
	2011-12:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246905/0624.pdf
	2012-13:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263986/0579.pdf

Reservoirs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to implement the legislative changes proposed by the Environment Agency in its 2008 Annual Report, post-incident reporting for UK dams.

Dan Rogerson: The Flood and Water Management Act .2010 provided the legal basis to implement the Environment Agency's recommendations. Secondary legislation to implement that part of the Act came into force in July 2013 through amendments to the Reservoir Safety Act 1975. Further amendments to the Reservoir Safety Act will be introduced by the end of 2014.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on maintenance of buildings within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 2012-13; and if he will list each such building and the cost of repairs to it during that period.

Dan Rogerson: In 2012-13 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew spent £9,219,993 on maintaining and repairing its buildings and associated infrastructure on its two sites at Kew and Wakehurst Place.
	We do not keep records of expenditure on each building in a format that would allow reporting of spend in this way. To calculate this would be of disproportionate cost.

Squirrels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to eradicate grey squirrels.

George Eustice: Control of grey squirrels is a devolved matter. In England, Government effort to eradicate grey squirrels is focused in or around red squirrel strongholds. The Forestry Commission is currently leading a review of the Government’s grey squirrel control strategy, with a view to re-launching it later this year. However, given the number and range of the species, widespread eradication is not currently possible.

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located.

Dan Rogerson: 26% of staff in core DEFRA and 95% of staff in DEFRA's Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are located outside London. Information on the local authority in which staff are located could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Dan Rogerson: Of the core DEFRA staff recruited between 5 May 2010 and 14 February 2014 who declared their ethnicity, 87% were white and 13% were from a minority ethnic background.
	We are unable to analyse ethnicity and nationality data together and therefore cannot provide the white British data requested.

Trees

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of trees that have been planted in the UK in each of the last three years.

Dan Rogerson: No assessment has been made on the number of trees planted in the UK in each of the last three years. However, the Forestry Commission publishes a range of forestry statistics for the UK, including the area of new woodland creation and the area restocked after planting. These figures are given in the following table.
	
		
			  England Wales Scotland N Ireland UK  
			 Year to 31/3: Con B/L Con B/L Con B/L Con B/L Con B/L Total 
			 New Planting (thousands of hectares)—see notes 1 to 4            
			 2011 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.3 1.5 3.6 0.0 0.2 1.5 6.6 8.2 
			 2012 0.0 2.6 0.1 0.6 3.3 5.7 0.0 0.3 3.5 9.2 12.7 
			 2013 0.0 2.6 0.1 0.8 1.7 5.3 0.0 0.2 1.9 8.9 10.8 
			             
			 Restocking (thousands of hectares)—see notes 5 to 9            
			 2011 2.3 1.7 1.3 0.8 5.6 1.3 1.0 0.0 10. 3 3.8 14.0 
			 2012 2.0 1.6 1.4 0.6 4.6 1.1 0.9 0.1 9.0 3.3 12.3 
			 2013 2.2 1.8 1.4 0.6 5.1 0.9 1.1 0.1 9.7 3.4 13.1 
			 Key: Con = Conifer tree species B/L = Broadleaved tree species Notes: New Planting: 1. New planting figures come from Forestry Commission and Forest Service administrative systems. 2. Areas receiving grant aid are allocated to years by date of payment. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years. 3. Estimates of areas planted without grant aid are included (where possible), although non grant-aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. 4. Includes woodland formed by natural colonisation. Restocking: 5. Restocking figures come from Forestry Commission and Forest Service administrative systems. 6. Areas receiving grant aid are allocated to years by date of payment. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years. 7. Estimates of areas planted without grant aid are included (where possible), although non grant-aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. 8. Includes woodland formed by natural regeneration. 9. Natural regeneration of broadleaves in non-clearfell systems is likely to be under-reported in this table. 
		
	
	In addition, as part of the Big Tree Plant in England, 133,038 trees were planted in 2011-12 and 238,322 trees in 2012-13. We will not have precise figures for the number of trees planted in 2013-14 until the planting season has finished. However, we have committed funding to support the planting of 326,466 trees during this year.

Trees

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of tree planting in flood prevention.

Dan Rogerson: The Forestry Commission supports research into the use of afforestation as a means of reducing flooding. DEFRA is also funding projects in North Yorkshire, Somerset and Derbyshire which seek to demonstrate the impacts that tree planting may have on flood alleviation. When options are being considered to reduce flood risk in any particular location, it is DEFRA policy that all effective possibilities, including planting trees, should be considered.

Veterinary Medicine: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 786W, on veterinary medicine: antibiotics, when the detailed measures being developed for the Government Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy will be published.

George Eustice: Implementation of the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy is being overseen by an inter-departmental High-level Steering Group (HLSG) which is developing a plan of work that is due to be published before April 2014. This document will provide an update on progress with the outcome measures.

Whales: Japan

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to stop Japan's large-scale killing of whales and breaching of international treaties.

George Eustice: The Government regularly calls for Japan to cease its so-called “scientific whaling” programme. I wrote to the Japanese Fisheries Minister on 9 February and HM Ambassador to Japan wrote to the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs on 24 January setting out the UK Government's position.
	Japan carries out its large-scale whaling by exploiting a loophole, which permits so-called scientific whaling under the guise of research. The UK Government has made it clear that there is no valid argument for lethal research on whales. We therefore agree with Australian efforts to bring an end to these activities through the International Court of Justice. The judgment is expected later this year. We will continue to make our concerns known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity, including in the build-up to, and at, the next International Whaling Commission meeting in September 2014.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crime: Victims

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many referrals for review the Crown Prosecution Service has received from victims of crime under the Victims Rights to Review scheme since its introduction; and how many such reviews resulted in the original decision being changed.

Oliver Heald: Between 5 June 2013 and 31 January 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service received 981 requests for review under the Victims' Right to Review scheme.
	The Crown Prosecution Service has completed reviews in 909 of those cases.
	Of those reviews which have been completed, 122 have resulted in the original decision being changed.

Domestic Violence: Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service records the number of domestic violence prosecutions that are conducted without the participation of the victim.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of domestic violence prosecutions which are conducted without the participation of the victim. To obtain such information would require a manual review of the individual case files incurring disproportionate cost.

Driving Offences: Prosecutions

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many people were prosecuted for manslaughter arising from driving in each of the last five years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number of people prosecuted for manslaughter arising from driving. To obtain details of the number of such prosecutions would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Attorney-General what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of the Law Officers' Departments' Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of the Law Officers' Departments' Ministers.

Oliver Heald: The Attorney-General's office is approximately 40m2 and the Solicitor-General's is approximately 29m2. Both offices include meeting spaces which are the only dedicated ministerial meeting spaces within the Department.
	The two Ministers share a private office of four staff. In line with the practice of previous administrations, grades of staff are not usually disclosed to protect individual privacy when the numbers are five or fewer.

Police

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Attorney-General how many days on average were taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each area to provide advice to the police on charges of (a) rape, (b) domestic violence and (c) violent crime offences in the latest period for which figures are available.

Oliver Heald: The following tables show recorded data covering CPS pre-charging decisions in rape and domestic violence cases during the 2012-13 annual period. The information is drawn from the CPS Case Management System (CMS).
	It is not possible to provide a similar breakdown for violent crime as this data could be obtained only by analysis of case files at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Domestic violence decisions 2012-13 
			 Group First decision to charge decision (days) First decision to charge decision (number of decisions) Average number of days 
			 Cymru Wales 16,692 4,327 3.9 
			 Eastern 14,934 4,227 3.5 
			 East Midlands 16,460 4,447 3.7 
			 London 30,364 7,268 4.2 
			 Merseyside & Cheshire 11,201 2,675 4.2 
			 North East 14,015 3,435 4.1 
			 North West 41,358 8,027 5.2 
			 South East 13,594 3,396 4.0 
			 South West 9,435 3,009 3.1 
			 Thames and Chiltern 9,723 2,549 3.8 
			 Wessex 7,920 2,737 2.9 
			 West Midlands 26,351 5,225 5.0 
			 Yorkshire & Humberside 22,219 5,556 4.0 
			 Total 234,266 56,878 4.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Rape decisions 2012-13 
			 Group First decision to charge decision (days) First decision to charge decision (number of decisions) Average number of days 
			 Cymru Wales 5,504 209 26.3 
			 Eastern 2,663 106 25.1 
			 East Midlands 3,705 156 23.8 
			 London 12,360 425 29.1 
			 Merseyside & Cheshire 2,271 81 28.0 
			 North East 2,472 155 15.9 
			 North West 14,107 309 45.7 
			 South East 8,437 198 42.6 
			 South West 4,961 156 31.8 
			 Thames and Chiltern 3,188 125 25.5 
			 Wessex 5,992 162 37.0 
			 West Midlands 12,962 251 51.6 
			 Yorkshire & Humberside 7,502 220 34.1 
			 Total 86,124 2,553 33.7 
		
	
	The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data which constitutes official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. These data have been drawn from the CPS's administrative IT system, which (as with any large scale recording system) is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the CPS.

Rape

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General who will conduct the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review of the effects on changes in charging guidance on referrals from the police to the CPS in rape cases; when the review will conclude; and if a report of the review will be made public.

Oliver Heald: A National Scrutiny Panel led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing Lead for Rape is scheduled to take place in April in order to better understand the fall in referrals of rape cases from the police to the CPS. The findings from the panel will be published shortly thereafter.

Rape

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review of the effects of changes in charging guidance on referrals of rape case from the police to the CPS will also look at referrals of cases of domestic violence and child abuse.

Oliver Heald: The National Scrutiny Panel, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing Lead for Rape, has been set up to specifically consider falls in referrals of rape cases from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS will consider the outcomes from the panel, and take forward any relevant findings which may help the CPS and the police to understand further the reduction in referrals of domestic violence and child abuse cases.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of staff recruited to the Law Officers' Departments since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Declared ethnicity of staff recruited externally since May 2010 
			 Percentage 
			  White1 Ethnic minority background 
			 Tsol2 78 11.3 
			 SFO 52.5 15.2 
			 CPS3 78 18 
			 1 This data cannot be broken down to show individuals declared as “White British” only. 2 Tsol data also includes the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. 3 CPS data from April 2010. The CPS data covers appointments made through external recruitment and those recruited from other Government Departments into the CPS; it is not possible to break the recorded data down any further without incurring a disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	As with the rest of the civil service, the Law Officers’ Departments positively encourage applications from a diverse range of people, irrespective of race, gender or ethnic origin and are committed to opportunity and diversity in all employment practices, policies and procedures.
	The Law Officers’ Departments’ declared levels of BME staff compares favourably with a wider civil service average especially the Crown Prosecution Service who have been placed in the top ten public sector organisations for both ethnicity and gender by gender and race campaigns Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity's benchmarking survey.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to relocate staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department to the South West of England.

Oliver Heald: There are no plans to relocate staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department to the South West of England.

WALES

Flood Control

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much Wales will receive in Barnett consequentials following the Government's announcement of a programme of 55 new flood defence improvement projects for 2014-15.

David Jones: Flood defences and road infrastructure expenditure in Wales are matters for the Welsh Government. The funding the UK Government is providing to improve flood defences in England for road repairs following flooding, and for the provision of council tax refunds for flooded homes in England, is being found from within existing departmental budgets. The Barnett formula has already previously been applied to these budgets and therefore the Welsh Government has already received its allocation of funding through the application of the formula. As such, there will be no Barnett consequentials for this expenditure.
	The UK Government is also taking a range of actions to help homes and businesses across the UK following recent flooding, such as extra time for businesses to file accounts without penalties, access to a Business Support Line, and meeting with the insurance industry to discuss how they can help those people affected.
	Should the Welsh Government wish to reallocate their existing budgets towards flood repair or protection work, as has been done in England, that is a decision for them to make. In the event of an official request from the Welsh Government for additional assistance, the UK Government would be willing to consider the request. In the meantime, the UK Government stands ready to provide support to Wales in the event of further extreme weather, through the mobilisation of the military as has already been seen in parts of England.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to develop her Department’s strategic priority on violence against women and girls in Afghanistan; and whether those programmes will focus on preventing violence as well as responding to violence.

Justine Greening: In November 2013, I visited Kabul and announced a series of initiatives targeted at tackling violence against women in Afghanistan. This includes plans to provide an initial £3 million for a new programme that will work with the Afghan justice system to strengthen implementation of the elimination of violence against women law, as well as activities to change community attitudes toward violence.
	Additionally, from next year, at least 10 grants of up to £2 million will go to Afghan civil society organisations focusing primarily on the prevention of violence against women. These grants will be provided through an existing DFID funded programme, Tawanmandi.

Burma

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid contribution her Department has made to Burmese refugees living in camps on the Thailand-Burma border in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014 to date.

Alan Duncan: DFID has made the following aid contributions to Burmese refugees living in camps on the Thailand-Burma border since 2010:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2010 2 
			 2011 1.7 
			 2012 2 
			 2013 2.5 
		
	
	Money has yet to be distributed for 2014.

Burma

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department provided in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to support victims of rape and sexual violence by Burmese armed forces.

Alan Duncan: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of DFID funding to support victims of rape and sexual violence by year. DFID provides support for women affected by sexual violence and rape, including referrals to specialist centres, but it is part of a wider package of assistance which is not broken down by these categories.

Developing Countries: Disease Control

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure the Post 2015 Development Framework includes as a priority tackling (a) leprosy and (b) other neglected tropical diseases.

Lynne Featherstone: Leprosy is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that together affect the lives of more than a billion people, causing disability, disfigurement, stigma and an estimated half a million deaths annually in some of the poorest countries in the world.
	We are committed to the inclusion of NTDs in a future development framework, as demonstrated through the inclusion of NTDs in the health targets recommended in the report of the High Level Panel, which the Prime Minister chaired. We have to ensure that we adopt an appropriate and manageable number of indicators and we will welcome the contribution of NTD partners in the discussions which are being led by the United Nations through the Open Working Group.

Developing Countries: Leprosy

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to provide (a) healthcare, (b) education and (c) training programmes to those with leprosy.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK’s health focus is to improve the provision of basic health services for the poorest by supporting health systems strengthening, health worker capacity and access to essential medicines. Increasing coverage, equity, access and quality will strengthen health services to address all health problems.
	Through our civil society challenge fund, we support the Leprosy Mission England and Wales, who work to empower people affected by leprosy to advocate for their rights and entitlements in India. We are committed to investing in education in developing countries to support all children, including the most marginalised (girls, the disabled, ethnic and linguistic minorities, slum dwellers and others), to access a good quality basic education.

Developing Countries: Poverty

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of Making Financial Markets Work for the Poor Programme on people in poverty.

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The original monitoring arrangements for the Phase 2 FinMark programme were established at the time of the programme design in 2010 and are regularly assessed and updated if necessary.

Disaster Relief

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to implement its 2006 disaster risk reduction policy goals of allocating approximately 10 per cent of its funding in response to natural disasters to preparedness and mitigation measures; and what the target date for reaching that target is.

Justine Greening: The goal of allocating 10% of humanitarian funding to preparedness and mitigation measures in response to a natural disaster has now been overtaken by the UK Government’s Humanitarian Policy “Saving lives, preventing suffering and building resilience”, published in 2011. While the 10% goal focused on investments in preparedness and mitigation following a specific disaster, the new policy commits the UK to building national and community resilience before disasters and shocks take place. This is so countries are better able to withstand disasters and quickly recover. To achieve this, DFID has committed to embedding disaster resilience in all its country programmes and to promoting disaster resilience internationally. In Bangladesh, for example, DFID is helping 15 million people better cope with floods and cyclones through improved early warning systems. We also provide core funds to the United Nations, Red Cross Movement and NGOs to improve their preparedness in countries most at risk.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Alan Duncan: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of FTE staff Staff cost (£000)1 Total cost (£000) 
			 2008-09 3.5 147.0 285.0 
			 2009-10 2 126.1 177.6 
			 2010-11 2.50 136.4 148.0 
			 2011-12 2.75 146.9 149.9 
			 2012-13 2.66 157.4 160.6 
			 1 Includes all salary related, travel and training costs. 
		
	
	Since October 2013, DFID no longer has specific roles responsible for diversity and equality. Delivery of equality and diversity is now a responsibility of general HR staff.

Mozambique

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of Mozambique Regional Gateway Programme on people in poverty.

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The monitoring arrangements are assessed regularly and updated if necessary.

Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 304W, on re-employment, how much was paid to the staff referred to as part of their retirement package.

Alan Duncan: As this question relates to a small number of individuals, the information is being withheld because releasing it could lead to the amount paid to specific individuals being identified, breaching their right to the protection of their personal information.

South Asia

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of the South Asia Regional Trade and Integration Programme on people in poverty.

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact. The original monitoring arrangements are formally assessed every six months for their effectiveness and revised accordingly.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bellwin Scheme

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Bellwin scheme has been activated since May 2010; and whether the payment on each such occasion was (a) 100 per cent and (b) 85 per cent.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 27 January 2014
	Bellwin provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help them meet uninsurable and exceptional costs they incur when responding to a major emergency in their area. The level of funding overtime is causally linked to the scale of flooding or other emergency. It operates by local authorities retrospectively claiming spending back.
	There have been six activations of the Bellwin scheme that have resulted in grant payments to local authorities since 2010. Those incidents and grant rates are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Activation of Bellwin scheme: 2010-14 
			  Incident Grant rate (%) 
			 2011 Wild fires outbreak in Swinley Forest area in May 2011 85 
			 2012 June and July 2012 floods 100 
			  September 2012 floods 85 
			  November 2012 floods 85 
			  December 2012 floods 85 
			 2013 to date Storm surge and winter floods in early December 2013 to date 100 
			 Note: Activation may not necessarily be in the same year as the incidents occurred. 
		
	
	The exceptional decision to depart from the default grant rate in June/July 2012 was influenced by the weather being the wettest June since records began.
	As outlined in the written statement of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 31-2WS, we recognise that the current winter floods are exceptional, hence the decision to pay Bellwin grant at 100% above threshold and make a series of further enhancements.

Bellwin Scheme

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Bellwin payment in respect of the recent floods has been reduced from 100 per cent of eligible costs to 85 per cent.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 27 January 2014
	The standard grant rate is 85% of eligible costs above the threshold.
	In light of the exceptional nature of the current winter floods, Ministers have made a series of enhancements, as outlined in the written statement of 6 February 2014, Official Report, columns 31-2WS, including paying Bellwin grant at 100% above threshold.

Bellwin Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether he plans to extend the deadline for applications to the Bellwin Fund beyond the end of March 2014 in respect of damage caused by and recovery measures relating to the recent winter floods;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications for consideration of applications to the Bellwin Fund of the fact that the winter floods are still ongoing, making the extent of damage difficult to assess.

Brandon Lewis: Bellwin provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help them meet uninsurable costs they incur when responding to a major emergency in their area. The level of funding over time is causally linked to the scale of flooding or other emergency. It operates by local authorities retrospectively claiming spending back.
	In relation to the recent winter floods, we recently announced that the eligible Bellwin spending period will be extended until the end of May 2014. There will be a corresponding extension for applications until the end of June 2014.

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which buildings occupied by his Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Brandon Lewis: My Department currently occupies eight properties which are owned or part-owned privately. These are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Property Location Landlord 
			 Eland House London Tishman Speyer Properties Ltd 
			 Temple Quay House Bristol Prupim Limited 
			 Hempstead House Hemel Hempstead Dorchester Property Investments Ltd 
			 Rivergate House Bristol UK Commercial Property Holdings Ltd 
			 Bridge House Guildford Aviva Life Pensions UK Ltd 
			 City gate Newcastle Danmerc Property Ltd 
			 Lateral Leeds RREEF Spezial Invest GmbH 
			 St Phillips Place Birmingham Climate Change Capital Ltd 
		
	
	Due to the commercial sensitivity I am unable to provide information relating to specific rents.
	Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its. wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sublet surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.
	Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £1.5 million by subletting further space in Eland House. Most recently the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House in London and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham Street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year, and overall, save the Government £24 million a year.
	This illustrates the scope for local government, and indeed the public sector as a whole, to make sensible savings through better property management.
	In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other DCLG held properties.
	The DCLG Group is reducing its annual running costs by 41% in real terms by 2014-15. This equates to net savings of at least £532,000,000 over this spending review period.

Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such unused office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation.

Brandon Lewis: The Department assesses its properties as either being required to deliver departmental functions (core estate) or surplus to this requirement (non-core). The current classification system does not relate to the frequency of use and as a consequence we do not hold this information.
	The Department does not hold the value of properties which it occupies under leasehold or Memorandum Of Terms of Occupation agreements. Due to commercial sensitivity and disposal plans, we are unable to release the values of freehold properties.
	Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sub-let surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall-property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.
	Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £4.6 million by subletting further space in Eland House in London. Most recently, the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham Street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year from 2015-16. Overall, these changes will save the Government £24 million a year.
	This illustrates the scope for local government and, indeed, the public sector as a whole to make sensible savings through better property management.
	In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other properties held by DCLG.

Buildings

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him.

Brandon Lewis: The following table sets out the details of the properties owned and occupied by the Department for Communities and Local Government, its agencies and public bodies accountable to the Secretary of State:
	
		
			 Property name Location Tenure Floor area (m2) 
			 Department For Communities and Local Government    
			 12 Princes Parade Liverpool Government shared 212 
			 2 Rivergate Bristol Leasehold/Licence 6,440.0 
			 25 Queen Street Leeds Leasehold/Licence 3,457.8 
			 5 St Philips Place Birmingham Leasehold/Licence 6,024.0 
			 Arpley House Warrington Government shared 407.6 
			 Ashdown House Hastings Government shared 418.2 
			 Bridge House Guildford Leasehold/Licence 3,587.6 
			 Citygate Newcastle Upon Tyne Leasehold/Licence 6,095.0 
			 Cobourg House Plymouth Government shared 232.3 
			 Cumberland Place Nottingham Government shared 420.4 
			 Eastbrook House Cambridge Government shared 4691.5 
			 Eland House London Leasehold/Licence 23,002.0 
			 Hangar 97 Gloucestershire Freehold 4,403.0 
			 Hempstead House Hemel Hempstead Leasehold/Licence 1,816.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Lateral Leeds Leasehold/Licence 5,612.0 
			 Longbrook House Exeter Government shared 135 
			 Lysnoweth Truro Government shared 116 
			 New Burlington House London Freehold 7,373.6 
			 Old Burlington House London Freehold 5,047.0 
			 Paradise Circus Birmingham Leasehold/Licence 3,463.3 
			 Queen Elizabeth II London Freehold 16,559.7 
			 Temple Quay Bristol Leasehold/Licence 9,177.2 
			 Vulcan House Sheffield Government shared 77 
			     
			 Valuation Tribunal Service    
			 Black Lion House London Leasehold/Licence 876.2 
			 Units 1 and 2, Hepworth House Doncaster Leasehold/Licence 449.0 
			     
			 Leasehold Advisory Service    
			 Maple House London Government shared 202.8 
			     
			 Local Government Ombudsman    
			 2 The Oaks Coventry Leasehold/Licence 1,638.1 
			 Beverley House York Leasehold/Licence 733.0 
			 Fry Building London Government shared 320 
			     
			 Homes and Communities Agency    
			 2 Rivergate Bristol Government shared 603 
			 5 St Philips Place Birmingham Government shared 566 
			 Arpley House Warrington Freehold 2,699.0 
			 Bridge House Guildford Government shared 3,587.6 
			 Central Business Exchange 11 Milton Keynes Leasehold/Licence 1,207.0 
			 Cumberland Place Nottingham Government shared 210.0 
			 Lateral Leeds Government shared 570 
			 Maple House London Leasehold/Licence 1,382.0 
			 Maple House London Leasehold/Licence 746.0 
			 Piccadilly Gardens Manchester Leasehold/Licence 941. 
			 St- Georges House Gateshead Freehold 1,993.0 
			 The Observatory Brunel Chatham Government shared 193.9 
			     
			 West Northamptonshire Development council    
			 Franklins Gardens Northampton Leasehold/Licence 414.7 
			     
			 Housing Ombudsman    
			 Aldwych House London Leasehold/Licence 628.0 
		
	
	The Department does not hold the value of properties which it occupies under leasehold or Memorandum of Terms Occupation agreements with other Government Departments. Due to commercial sensitivity and disposal plans, we are unable to release the values of the freehold properties in the above list.
	Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sub-let surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.
	Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £4.6 million by subletting further space in Eland House in London. Most recently, the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham street. This move will reduce my Department's running costs by £9 million a year from 2015-16. Overall, these changes will save the Government £24 million a year.
	This illustrates the scope for local government and, indeed, the public sector as a whole to make sensible savings through better property management.
	In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister's commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with a business incubator provider to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol. This is an important part of the Government's drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other properties held by DCLG.

European Commission

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set out his Department’s priorities for discussions with the European Commission over their 2014 Work programme; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 30 January 2014
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), on 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 625W.
	My Department will continue to watch for proposals which could affect our interests and consider how best to engage with the European Commission. In 2014, this will include negotiations on the detailed content of the English European Regional Development Fund Operational Programme, which will set out the priorities for spend during 2014-20 and playing a constructive role in discussions with the Commission and other member states on Roma integration.
	The European regional development fund will be delivered through local enterprise partnerships as part of a single European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme that will also include the European social fund and part of the European agricultural fund for rural development.

Fire Service College

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on training by the Fire Service College in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 to date; how much he expects to spend in (i) this financial year and (ii) the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Spending on training by the public sector at the Fire Services College is primarily through local fire and rescue authorities. My Department has undertaken some spending on training for national resilience purposes:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Through the National Resilience Assurance Team Direct DCLG Total 
			 2011-12 1.5 0 1.5 
			 2012-13 1.2 0 1.2 
			 2013-14 to date 1.1 1.3 2.4 
			     
			 2013-14 full year estimate 1.2 1.5 2.7 
			 2014-15 1.1 1- 1.1 
			 2015-16 2- 1- 2- 
			 1 No estimate made 2 Not yet finalised 
		
	
	I also refer the right hon. Member to my written statement of 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 33WS, on how we are bringing in new investment to secure the future of the college as well as delivering a £30 million saving to taxpayers.

Fire Services: Pay

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has given to local authorities to ensure that a vote on senior fire authority officials pay is held;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of fire and rescue services compliance with his Department's guidance on openness and accountability in local pay;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to increase local scrutiny and accountability of remuneration of fire authority staff;
	(4)  what the (a) salary and (b) pension arrangements are of each chief fire officer in England;
	(5)  how many chief fire officers earn more than £115,000 per annum;
	(6)  what guidance he gives to local fire authorities on the remuneration of chief fire officers;
	(7)  how the remuneration of chief fire officers is (a) set and (b) regulated;
	(8)  if he will make it his policy that no chief fire officer should be earning more than £80,000 per annum.

Brandon Lewis: Pay and pension arrangements for fire and rescue authority employees are the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities as the individual employers. Details of individual rates of pay are not held centrally. A chief fire officer will either be eligible to be a member of the Firefighters' Pensions Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme depending on their individual circumstance.
	Fire and rescue authorities are, under Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011, required to publish remuneration for senior employees whose salary is at least £50,000 and above in their annual statement of accounts. In addition, senior employees earning £150,000 or more must be named.
	Authorities are also required to publish their annual pay policy statements in a form accessible for local scrutiny as prescribed in the Localism Act 2011. To accompany the Act, we have issued statutory guidance which includes provisions on increasing transparency and accountability on decisions made on senior pay and reward. In particular that full council (or a meeting of members for fire authorities) should be given the opportunity to vote before large salary packages of £100,000 or more are offered in respect of new appointments. Where it appears that fire and rescue authorities have not followed guidelines contained within the Localism Act 2011, I am happy to challenge them, as I did with Cambridge Fire and Rescue authority.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-policy-statement-2013-to-2014
	We will also soon be publishing a revised code on local transparency; this will set out the information on senior salaries that we expect fire and rescue authorities to publish. We intend to lay regulations making it a statutory requirement for this information to be published.
	The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services publish annually recommended minimum levels of salary applicable to chief fire officers/chief executives employed by local authority fire and rescue authorities.

Flood Control

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the National Flood Forum as to the use of alternatives to sandbags to increase the efficiency of barriers and post-flood community restitution.

Brandon Lewis: The Government fully understands that sand bags are only a temporary means of flood protection to be used in an emergency but they are important in this context. We are grateful for the way that local authorities across the country have supported their neighbours facing flooding by making their own stocks available for their use to protect their communities. But this is a short term measure, which is why we are making available £5,000 to every household and business flooded in recent events to make the more long term resilient repairs recommended by the National Flood Forum and the Environment Agency. This funding was announced on 18 February and the detail of how it will be paid is being determined.
	We also agree that the best measure to protect whole communities is investment in large scale flood defences, along rivers and the coast. This why we are spending £3.1 billion on flood defences over this parliament, compared with £2.7 billion in previous Parliament, more than ever before in both cash and real terms.

Housing Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 652W, on housing benefit, whether local authorities will continue to decide on applications for reimbursement of service charging on adaptation following the full introduction of universal credit.

Kris Hopkins: Decisions on charging for maintenance costs following housing adaptations funded by the disabled facilities grant are for local authorities. Those decisions will continue to be made by local authorities following the introduction of universal credit.

Housing: Construction

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 47 of the National Planning Policy Framework, whether local authorities are required to include greenbelt land in their five-year supply of deliverable housing sites if no other sites are available.

Nicholas Boles: We have maintained strong protections for the Green Belt. This Government continues to attach great importance to Green Belt as a way to prevent sprawl and encroachment on open countryside, and as a vital ‘green lung' for many communities. Our abolition of top-down regional strategies removed the threat to Green Belt round many towns and cities. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of Green Belt, and that inappropriate development in Green Belt should not be approved except in very special circumstances. A Green Belt boundary may be adjusted only in exceptional circumstances, using the Local Plan process of consultation followed by independent examination. The National Planning Policy Framework also makes clear that Local Plans should meet objectively assessed needs unless specific policies, such as Green Belt designation, indicate that development should be restricted.

Housing: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in London last year; and what the target for such building was.

Kris Hopkins: From 1 April 2012, the Mayor of London has had strategic oversight of housing, regeneration and economic development in London.
	Statistics on house building completions by tenure in each London borough are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building
	In addition, the NHBC reported on 31 January that the number of new home registrations in London rose by 60% in 2013 on the year before, representing the highest number of new homes registered in a year in London since their records began.

Housing: Older People

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what guidance he has given to (a) local authorities and (b) the Planning Inspectorate on building more retirement housing;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the current planning system on the supply of retirement housing; and what recent discussions he has had with that sector to encourage the provision of such funding.

Nicholas Boles: For too long not enough account has been taken of the need for retirement housing. That is why this Government included specific policies to support the provision of homes for older people when we introduced the National Planning Policy Framework.
	The Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should assess and plan for a range of housing needs and specifically for older people.
	To support this policy we have also published draft National Planning Policy Guidance, which provides further guidance on how to assess and plan housing for older people.
	The final version of the National Planning Practice Guidance will go live following consideration of comments received during the test phase.
	Ministers have regular meetings with a range of different partners and organisations. Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the Department's website.

Housing: Standards

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dependent children in (a) Coventry, (b) Coventry North East constituency, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England were living in homes not classed as decent in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013.

Kris Hopkins: holding answer 28 January 2014
	Figures are not currently available for 2012 or 2013. However, according to the English Housing Survey, the number of families with dependent children living in non-decent homes in England has fallen from 1.8 million households in 2009 to 1.5 million in 2011. The total number of non-decent homes has similarly fallen from 6.7 million in 2009 to 5.4 million in 2011.
	The coalition Government is investing £2.1 billion over the current spending review period to improve the quality of existing social housing through the Decent Homes programme and large-scale voluntary transfer gap funding. A further £160 million of funding is being committed for 2015-16.
	As outlined in the written ministerial statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, columns 31-33WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by Government office region. Estimates are not available for Coventry or Coventry North East constituency.

Land

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which sites owned by his Department are currently earmarked for disposal; what the current class use is of each site; what the expected planning use is for each site; whether each site already has planning permission for the expected planning use; what the market value of the site is; and whether the site will be sold for the full market value.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), 28 January 2014, Official Report, column 514W.
	Notwithstanding, I would add that my Department is currently disposing of 33 houses in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, which were formerly part of the Fire Service College. The Fire Service College was sold in March 2013 and generated savings of £3.9 million in running costs per year. The houses will remain as residential dwellings, so no change in planning permission is required.
	The sale of two of the houses has now completed, generating a receipt of £450,000 and a further seven are currently under offer. The market value of the properties upon which sales have been agreed range from £215,000 to £250,000 and the total expected income from the sale of the 33 houses is c.£7,500,000.
	The sale of the surplus houses was outlined in my written statement of 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 33WS.
	More broadly, the new owner of the college has committed to a significant programme of infrastructure investment and transformation at the college. The collective asset sales represent a good deal for taxpayers and value for money for the public purse.

Land

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits for tenants and practitioners of consolidating current legislation relating to leasehold and commonhold interests in land.

Kris Hopkins: holding answer 10 February 2014
	Commonhold is a form of freehold available as an alternative to leasehold tenure as a way of owning premises that share structures or facilities, such as blocks of flats. It was introduced in 2004 by Part 1 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Part 1 has not been substantially amended, so the Government has no current plans to consolidate the legislation relating to commonhold.
	Leasehold legislation is considerably older and more extensive than the commonhold legislation. The Government has no current plans to consolidate this legislation either generally or in relation to specific topics but will keep the situation under review.

Landlords

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has, other than monetary provision, to empower local authorities to further tackle unscrupulous landlords.

Kris Hopkins: The majority of landlords are reputable and provide decent well maintained homes. However, a small minority rent out unsafe overcrowded accommodation and exploit their tenants. These rogue landlords give the whole sector a bad name and we are determined to crack down on them. In August 2012 we published guidance on this issue: ‘Dealing with Rogue Landlords—a guide for local authorities’.
	Local authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle poor property conditions, including the ability to require that improvement works are carried out and prohibiting the use of a dwelling. This system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe and decent.
	We have published a discussion document as the first stage of a wide ranging review of property conditions in the private rented sector. Among other things, the review is considering the possibility of requiring landlords to repay rent where a property is found to contain serious hazards.

Local Government

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his contribution of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 678, on the Second Reading of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill [Lords], when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to allow local authorities in the same local enterprise partnership and functional economic area which do not have a contiguous boundary to join combined authorities.

Brandon Lewis: As stated in the White Paper, “Government's response to the Heseltine review (Cm 8587; March 2013)”, the Government is committed to make the existing legislation on combined authorities effective and sufficient for its needs, and following discussions my officials have had with certain authorities potentially concerned, we are now considering consulting before the summer on a Legislative Reform Order to amend the existing legislation so that authorities which do not have a contiguous boundary but are in the same functional economic area can join a combined authority.

Local Government Finance: Bolton

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has has made of the effect of the change in financing local authorities for 2013-14 on the spending power of Bolton council.

Brandon Lewis: The 2013-14 Spending Power figure for Bolton is £2,124 per dwelling.
	The 2013-14 Spending Power figures were published with the 2013-14 Local Government Finance Settlement.
	The overall yearly change in spending power across Bolton in 2013-14 (including the public health grant) was just -1%, compared to an English average of -1.3%.

Local Government Finance: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of (a) the loss of revenue to Warrington Borough Council arising from the 2 per cent cap on business rates and (b) how much that authority will receive in specific grant allocation to cover this.

Brandon Lewis: There will be no loss of revenue to Warrington borough council as councils will be compensated for the full cost of the 2% cap based on actual outturn figures. Councils will also receive advance payments based on their estimates of costs.

Local Government: Procurement

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of trends in local government procurement from small, local businesses.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not monitor or assess trends in local government procurement. A joint report by the Federation of Small Businesses and the Local Government Association launched in July 2013, found that 47% of local government procurement went to small and medium enterprises and 91% of local authorities had initiatives in place to help small and medium-sized enterprises tender for contracts.
	The Department has been involved in a number of events to promote local and small businesses such as the 'Best Councils to Do Business With' competition and the 'Small Business Saturday' event.
	The Department also supports the proposals coming out of the Lord Young report on procurement which will open up procurement opportunities for local small businesses.

Non-domestic Rates

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to speed up the business rates appeals process.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is also consulting on a range of proposals to reform the non-domestic ratings appeals process. The reforms are designed to increase the transparency and efficiency of the process.
	The consultation closes on 3 March 2014 and further details are available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263015/Checking_and_Challenging_your_Rateable_Value.pdf
	We are also committed to clearing 95% of the current backlog of business rates appeals by July 2015 and I also refer the hon. Member to my answers of 28 November 2013, Official Report, columns 387-89W, on action we have taken to date to tackle the appeals backlog we have inherited from the last Administration.

Non-domestic Rates

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the success of business improvement districts.

Brandon Lewis: The Government fully supports the principles behind business improvement districts. They allow businesses to club together to fund improvements to their trading environment, through a contribution on business rates, subject to the democratic check of a referendum of local businesses. There are currently around 160 across the UK.
	DCLG has no monitoring role in their operation but evidence from the sector supports the view that they are a popular and valued tool with over 90% of existing business improvement districts being renewed at ballot, according to the Nationwide Business Improvement District Survey 2013.
	We do not assess the success of individual business improvement districts but—as announced in the Town Centre package announced on 6 December 2013—we will review their work in England to see how they could play a stronger role in high street regeneration and in managing town centres. The terms of reference are currently being developed and will be published in the spring.

Non-domestic Rates: Cinemas

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons cinemas in England were not included in his document Business rates: retail relief guidance, published on 29 January 2014.

Brandon Lewis: As announced in the Autumn Statement, the rate relief of up to £1,000 is for shops, restaurants and pubs with a rateable value of up to £50,000. Cinemas do not fall in that category.
	I appreciate that there may be types of business premise which are not included and would understandably wish to be covered; yet, this needs to be balanced by the cost to the Exchequer of providing the relief, especially in the wider fiscal context of the over-riding need to pay off the deficit by the last Administration.
	Notwithstanding, cinemas will still benefit from the 2% cap in the increase in the multiplier, the further increase in small business rate relief for smaller venues, and the new right for ratepayers to pay their yearly rates bills over 12 monthly instalments rather than 10.
	Local councils can also offer further discretionary rate relief, should they wish, using their powers to levy local discounts under the Localism Act; under local business rates retention, central Government would pay 50% of the cost, and local government the remaining 50% of such relief.
	In addition, I would add that the Autumn Statement announced a number of measures for the creative industries, including a new tax relief for theatre productions and a package of changes to modernise the UK film tax relief subject to State Aid approval (HM Treasury, Autumn Statement 2013, Cm 8747, p.51). Cinemas will also benefit in the Government's broader reductions to corporation tax and employers' national insurance contributions.

Pay

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him.

Brandon Lewis: Information on number of staff by pay grade is published monthly on the Department, its Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies on both the gov.uk website and the data.gov.uk website.
	Our departmental audited annual accounts for the core Department show that total staff costs fell from £216 million in 2009-10 to £99 million in 2012-13, a reduction of 54% in cash terms, or a saving of £117,000,000 a year. The number of staff has been reduced from 3,781 full-time equivalent in 2009-10 to 1,681 in 20012-13, a reduction of 56%.
	The latest published figures for data as of 31 December 2013 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Organisation name Organisation type Admin officers/ admin assistant Executive officers Higher executive officers/ senior executive officers Grade 6/7 Senior civil service Other, unknown or unspecified Total employees 
			 Department for Communities and Local Government Ministerial Department 101 249 765 518 80 0 1,713 
			 Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency 234 134 106 325 6 0 805 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Executive Agency 6 12 21 3 1 0 43 
			 Homes and Communities Agency Executive Non-Departmental Public Body 123 230 276 41 53 180 903 
			 Housing Ombudsman Executive Non-Departmental Public Body 0 0 0 0 0 44 44 
			 Leasehold Advisory Service Executive Non-Departmental Public Body 3 1 17 0 1 0 22 
			 Valuation Tribunal Service Executive Non-Departmental Public Body 27 44 13 2 1 0 87 
			 West Northamptonshire Development Corporation Executive Non-Departmental Public Body 6 6 7 2 3 9 33

Population

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of (a) population and (b) household projections available to local authorities.

Brandon Lewis: Local authority (sub-national) population projections are produced by the Office for National Statistics. The next update will be the 2012-based projections to be published this year. These will be the first to provide a full update of trends following the 2011 Census and are consistent with the 2012-based national populations published in November 2013. They are consulting with local authorities to improve the quality of these projections.
	My Department plans to produce 2012-based household projections following the publications of the sub-national population projections. These household projections will take account of the most recent information on trends in household formation including the 2011 census.

Private Rented Housing: Floods

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to local authorities on private sector tenants whose properties have been affected by flooding as regards (a) payment of rent when the property is no longer habitable and (b) entitlement to housing support from the local authority.

Kris Hopkins: holding answer 29 January 2014
	If a tenant's home has been damaged by flooding, they should immediately contact their landlord. If it is necessary for the tenant to move out, the tenant should aim to reach an agreement with the landlord about the payment of rent while the property is uninhabitable. The tenant should check the provisions of their tenancy agreement, as it may provide for the suspension of rent payments and/or the termination of the tenancy in such circumstances.
	Where an agreement about the payment of rent cannot be reached, the tenant should seek independent legal advice. Law centres provide free legal advice on a range of issues including housing or tenants can call Community Legal Advice.
	The 1996 Housing Act refined and expanded the definition of a household in 'priority need' in England (and Wales) so as to include someone homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.
	It also placed a duty upon local housing authorities to provide accommodation for those households who find themselves homeless because of flood.

Procurement

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings have been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend or underspend was in each such contract; and what steps his Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the contract award.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 421W, to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans), on the Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11.

Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  which paid public appointment contracts he has (a) renewed and (b) not renewed since May 2010; and how many posts were held by (i) women and (ii) men;
	(2)  what the titles are of the individual public appointments that have been made by his Department since May 2010; and which of those appointees were women.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 607W.

Recovery Ministerial Group

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when the Ministerial Recovery Group has met since 7 January 2014; and who has attended each meeting;
	(2)  if he will publish the minutes of each meeting of the Ministerial Recovery working group since 7 January 2014.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 4 February 2014
	Since the coastal and winter floods in December, Ministers have been meeting regularly to discuss and co-ordinate the Government's actions on flooding, including meetings of the Ministerial Recovery Group, of COBR, of the new Cabinet Committee on flooding and other informal ad hoc meetings and conference calls.
	However, it is long-standing Government practice, under this and previous Administrations, not to provide a running commentary of every inter-departmental ministerial meeting and discussion, so as not to undermine collective responsibility, or inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views, or otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
	However, I would refer the hon. Member to the statements that Government Ministers have made to the House on flood recovery to date.

Rents: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to tackle rising rents in London.

Kris Hopkins: The increase in rents has been overstated—London rents have increased by 1.6% in the 12 months to December 2013, compared with a 2.0% rise in the Consumer Prices Index. Rents have thus fallen in real terms.
	Working with the Mayor of London, the Government believes the most effective way of managing rental costs in London, and across the UK, is to expand the provision of high quality, new build rented accommodation. That is why in September 2012 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced the £10 billion Housing Guarantees schemes, the Build to Rent Fund, which was increased to £1 billion in Budget 2013, and the Private Rented Sector Taskforce. Collectively these measures will help create a professionally managed institutional Private Rented Sector and contribute to economic growth.
	We should also avoid disproportionate regulation and red tape on the housing market which would push up rents and reduce choice for tenants.
	More broadly, according to the NHBC, new housing rose by 60% in 2013 compared to the year before. This is the highest number of new homes being built in London since NHBC records began.

River Lymington

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will oppose any application for a protective costs order from the Lymington River Association in respect of the latest application for an oral hearing from the Lymington River Association in respect of the operation of Wightlink Ferries in the Lymington River;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the effect on the economy of the Isle of Wight of the legal costs of dealing with previous and current applications from the Lymington River Association in relation to the operation of ferry services in the Lymington River.

Nicholas Boles: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to him today, PQ 186653. As I said in that answer, in light of the legal proceedings that are in train, it is inappropriate for me to make any comments in relation to this specific case.

Roads: Lighting

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote the Green Investment Bank loan available to finance local authorities to convert to low energy street lighting.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	BIS officials are currently exploring with the Green Investment Bank how relevant Government Departments can help promote implementation of energy efficiency measures within the public sector. This includes helping to raise awareness of the Green Investment Bank's new Green Loan facility as a means of financing such measures.

Social Rented Housing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities are able to build or purchase properties for social housing;
	(2)  how much the Government has set aside for local authorities to build or purchase properties for social housing in each of the next five years.

Kris Hopkins: holding answer 6 February 2014
	Following the reform of the Housing Revenue Account and introduction of self-financing of council housing in April 2012, all stock-holding local authorities have a stable source of funding with which to make long-term business plans, which can include the provision of new affordable homes. The Government will also be making available an additional £300 million Housing Revenue Account borrowing, across 2015-16 and 2016-17, to support about 10,000 new affordable homes. In addition, local authorities can bid for a share of the £3.3 billion of Government funding to support delivery of 165,000 affordable homes between 2015 and 2018. An independent review, led by Natalie Elphicke and Keith House, will review the role that all local authorities can play in housing supply, which is due to report by end 2014.
	More council housing has been built in England in the first three years of this Government than in all the 13 years of the previous Administration.

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has 26% of its staff based outside London. They are based in offices in the following local authorities:
	Birmingham City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Cambridge City Council/Cambridgeshire County Council
	Cornwall Council (Unitary)
	Dacorum Council/Hertfordshire County Council
	Exeter City Council/Devon County Council
	Guildford Borough Council/Surrey County Council
	Hastings Borough Council/East Sussex County Council
	Leeds City Council
	Liverpool City Council
	Manchester City Council
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council
	Nottingham City Council
	Plymouth City Council
	Sheffield City Council
	Warrington Borough Council
	My Department’s Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies have staff in local authorities as follows:
	The Planning Inspectorate has 100% of its staff based outside London in Bristol City Council and Cardiff Council.
	The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre has none of its staff based outside London.
	The Homes and Communities Agency has 78% of its staff based outside London in:
	Warrington Borough Council
	Bedford Council (Unitary)
	Birmingham City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Cambridge City Council / Cambridgeshire County Council
	Medway Council
	Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
	Guildford Borough Council/Surrey County Council
	Leeds City Council
	Manchester City Council
	Nottingham City Council
	Housing Ombudsman has none of its staff based outside London.
	Leasehold Advisory Service has none of its staff based outside London.
	Valuation Tribunal Service has 48% of its staff based outside London in Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.
	West Northamptonshire Development Corporation has 100% of its staff based outside London in Northampton Borough Council/Northamptonshire County Council.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Brandon Lewis: Ethnicity declaration rates for staff recruited into the Department since 5 May 2010 are included in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 White1 78 
			 Asian 9 
			 Black 6 
			 Chinese 1 
			 Mixed 4 
			 Other 2 
			 1 Due to the manner in which data are reported by staff, meaningful disaggregations are not available. 
		
	
	Proportion of staff does not include those who have not stated their ethnicity since joining the Department.

Supporting People Programme: Torbay

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much has been paid to Torbay Council for homelessness prevention and in homelessness prevention grants combined in each year since 2010;
	(2)  how much has been paid in supporting people grants to Torbay Council in each year since 2010.

Kris Hopkins: To provide context, the following table sets out the total amount of Homelessness Prevention Grant funding allocated to Torbay council since 2008. Torbay council also received £57,000 in 2009-10 and £38,973 in 2011-12 to help prevent repossessions.
	
		
			 Preventing homelessness funding to Torbay council since 2008 
			  Funding (£) 
			 2008-09 60,000 
			 2009-10 76,050 
			 2010-11 61,050 
			 2011-12 85,470 
			 2012-13 85,470 
			 2013-14 166,592 
			 2014-15 166,000 
			 1 This is the amount identified within the Start-up Funding Assessment/Settlement Funding Settlement for 2013-14 and 2014-15. This is partially funded through Revenue Support Grant and partially through retained business rates. The actual amount retained through business rates is subject to the amount of business rates collected by each individual authority. 
		
	
	Since 2013-14, the Homelessness Prevention Grant has been rolled into the Local Government Finance Settlement. For the 2013-14 allocations adjustments were made to take into account new funding mechanisms for court desks. Where authorities had previously received court desk funding through a baseline uplift of the Homelessness Prevention Grant (£18,500 in the case of Torbay) the funding was moved to the Ministry of Justice. This explains the lower figure since 2013-14.
	Since April 2011, Supporting People funding has been allocated through the Local Government Finance Settlement. Supporting People was unring-fenced in 2009. Over the Spending Review period, the Government is investing £6.5 billion on the Supporting People programme across the country.
	Funding through the local government finance settlement is unringfenced. Authorities are able to use this funding for any service.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department monitors the number of unauthorised developments and encampments; and how many unauthorised developments and encampments have been recorded since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: My Department publishes traveller caravan count statistics which can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/collections/traveller-caravan-count
	These statistics, summarised as follows, show a downward trend in numbers of caravans on unauthorised sites. Although the statistical return includes the number of unauthorised sites at the time of each count, the sites vary in size and therefore the number of caravans on such sites is a better measure.
	As I outlined in my answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1166W, under the last Administration, the introduction of the Human Rights Act and weak planning rules saw a surge in the number of unauthorised developments, undermining community cohesion and fuelling public concern.
	
		
			 As at January: Total number of caravans Caravans on unauthorised sites Percentage on unauthorised sites 
			 2010 18,370 3,619 19.7 
			 2011 18,383 3,109 16.9 
			 2012 18,746 2,850 15.2 
			 2013 18,729 2,693 14.4 
		
	
	The Localism Act 2011 has given councils stronger powers to tackle the abuse of retrospective planning permission, and we have given councils enhanced powers to issue Temporary Stop Notices to tackle such unauthorised sites.
	Our planning policy on traveller sites, published in March 2012, removed guidance from the last Administration's ODPM Circular 01/06 that previously restricted councils' ability to undertake planning enforcement action. We are currently reviewing the scope for further strengthening of our practice and policy guidance.
	My Department has also published a clear guide to councils on the wide range of legal powers they have to tackle unauthorised sites.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to reduce potential tension arising from his Department's guidance on Planning policy for Traveller sites.

Brandon Lewis: Under the Labour Government's flawed planning rules, a sense of unfairness was embedded in the planning system. Unauthorised developments created tensions between travellers and the settled population, while some community groups seemingly were given favoured treatment. That approach harmed community cohesion. We want to redress the balance and put fairness back into local communities and ensure everyone is treated with respect.
	As outlined in my answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1132W, we have revoked the top-down regional targets of the last Administration, given councils greater local discretion and removed the guidance which pressured councils to compulsory purchase land for traveller sites. Strong consideration is given to the protection of local amenity and the local environment amenity.
	Through the Localism Act and our reform of Temporary Stop Notices, we have given councils greater powers to tackle unauthorised development and stop the abuse of retrospective planning permissions. The previous perception that a blind eye was turned to breaches of the planning system by certain groups was particularly harmful to community relations.
	As I explained in my written statement of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 24WS, we have revoked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's politically correct practice guidance of 'Diversity and Equality in Planning' which failed to strike the correct balance between the spatial impact of a planning proposal and the background of the applicant in considering a planning application.
	Finally, as I indicated in my written statement of 17 January 2014, Official Report, column 34WS, we are also considering the case for further changes to planning policy and practice guidance to strengthen local environmental protection and ensure that the planning definition of 'travellers' better reflects those who actually travel and have a mobile or transitory lifestyle.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to change planning policy to ensure that local inhabitants are not disadvantaged in consideration of applications for Traveller sites.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods) today, PQ 187600.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms there are to enable local authorities to work collaboratively in relation to his Department's planning policy for Traveller sites; and what sanctions apply if local authorities do not work together.

Brandon Lewis: We introduced the Duty to Cooperate to require authorities to work together effectively on strategic planning matters that cross their administrative boundaries, including, where applicable, the provision of traveller sites.
	Local planning authorities should make every effort to secure the necessary cooperation on strategic cross boundary matters before they submit their local plans for examination.
	Local planning authorities must demonstrate how they have complied with the duty at the independent examination of their local plans. This locally-led approach is in contrast to the top-down regional targets of the last administration which fuelled conflict and resentment.

Wightlink Ferries

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to recover costs against the Lymington River Association in the event that their application for an oral hearing in respect of the operation of Wightlink Ferries is successful, but the hearing rules against them.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 10 February 2014
	In light of the legal proceedings that are in train, it is inappropriate for me to make any comments in relation to this specific case. The matter of award of costs is at the discretion of the Courts. It is generally the case that where costs are awarded in our favour, the Department for Communities and Local Government would take steps to pursue recovery.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when he plans to answer Question 182854, tabled for ordinary written answer on 13 January 2014;
	(2)  when he plans to answer Question 182853, tabled for ordinary written answer on 13 January 2014.

Kris Hopkins: Questions 182853 and 182854 were answered today.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer Question 184489, tabled on 22 January 2014 for written Answer 27 January 2014.

Kris Hopkins: Question 184489 was answered on 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 651W.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Dounreay

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the Babcock Dounreay Partnership's socio-economic development work in Thurso.

Michael Fallon: This is an operational matter for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The requirements on Babcock Dounreay Partnership (BDP) to carry out socio-economic activity within the Dounreay travel to work area are set out in its contract with the (NDA). The NDA assess all aspects of BDP's performance, including its socio-economic work, through that contract. The Department has made no separate assessment.

Dounreay

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on storing waste produced in Dounreay.

Michael Fallon: Waste produced at Dounreay is a devolved issue for the Scottish Government.

Electric Cables

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for 33kW connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in the last 12 months.

Michael Fallon: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Electric Cables

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what staff resource his Department made available for considering applications for approval of 33kw connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in each of the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: The Department employs the equivalent of two full-time staff to process applications seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) for overhead electricity lines under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, including applications for 33 kilovolt lines to connect distributed power.

Electric Cables

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average length of time was for his Department to consider and approve an application for 33kw connections for distributed power under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in each of the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Electricity: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the size is of his proposed contracts for difference allocation pot for (a) established and (b) non-established technologies in autumn 2014.

Michael Fallon: As set out in the Consultation on Competitive Allocation, published by the Department on 16 January 2014, we are working to determine the level of the CfD budget available to National Grid for allocation under the enduring regime and will publish this in advance of the first CfD allocation by summer 2014.

Electricity: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the budget for contracts for difference under the levy control framework in 2015-16.

Michael Fallon: As set out in the Consultation on Competitive Allocation, published by the Department on 16 January 2014, we are working to determine the level of the CfD budget available to National Grid for allocation under the enduring regime. We will publish this in advance of the first CfD allocation by summer 2014.

Energy

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure the UK has an integrated policy on gas, nuclear energy and carbon capture.

Michael Fallon: The Government is committed to bringing forward a diverse mix of energy technologies and fuels, including gas, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage and renewables. This approach means we are not dependent on any one type or source and so helps ensure energy security.

Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 238, what the evidential basis is for the statement that an unprecedented number of customers switched energy suppliers in the last two months of 2013.

Michael Fallon: Industry data (from Energy UK) show that around 1.33 million households switched electricity supplier during Q4 of 2013. For Q3, it is estimated 684,000 electricity transfers took place. This figure is taken from table 2.7.1 of DECC publication on quarterly domestic energy switching statistics:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-switching-statistics

Energy Supply

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to ensure that organisations granted STOR Long Term Contracts before May 2012 do not receive double payments for their capacity;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that all organisations with capacity awarded through STOR Long Term Contracts granted before May 2012 will only be eligible to participate in the Capacity Mechanism auction as existing capacity;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that companies which were awarded STOR Long Term Contracts in 2010 but only began construction after May 2012 are treated as existing capacity in the Capacity Mechanism auction.

Michael Fallon: The design of the Capacity Market was subject to a consultation exercise that closed in December 2013. The consultation detailed the generic eligibility criteria and proposed expenditure thresholds for accessing longer-term agreements. It also proposed how plant which began construction after May 2012 would be treated. The results of the consultation are being analysed and final legislative proposals will be laid before this House for consideration in the spring.

Energy: Competition

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria his Department used to establish which technologies should be considered an established technology for the purposes of contracts for difference competitive auctioning from 2014.

Michael Fallon: The Department recently launched a consultation on our approach to competitive allocation under Contracts for Difference. This closed on 12 February 2014 and we are considering the responses before confirming our policy position.
	The Government intends to move to a competitive price discovery process for all low-carbon technologies as soon as practicable in order to reduce costs of decarbonisation for consumers. In order to secure a diverse mix of renewable technologies, we must support those technologies with significant potential for future cost-reduction as well as those that are currently cheaper. Government therefore intends to divide the CfD budget between a group of more established technologies and a group of less established technologies, and run allocation rounds for both groups.
	The consultation proposed that technologies considered established are those which have already achieved cost reductions through sufficient levels of deployment to develop the scale and maturity of their supply chains and to realise early research and development and learning effects. Government therefore considers that these established technologies could be subject to immediate competition.
	Less established technologies are those that have a significant long-term role in the UK energy mix, where there is potential for future cost reduction, and where delivery of that cost reduction relies on a sufficient level of on-going deployment. Less established technologies will not typically demonstrate the scale and maturity of their supply chains as seen with the established technologies, nor will they have realised early research and development and learning effects.
	In developing the consultation proposals we have been mindful of the recently published draft EU guidelines on environmental and energy aid for 2014-20, which indicate the need for a move to competitive processes for some technologies.

Energy: Housing

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total value of payments made by domestic customers to British Gas for the installation of energy efficiency measures in their homes under the Energy Company Obligation as at 31 December 2013.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 218W.

Energy: Meters

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow all (a) social and (b) private tenants to switch from prepayment to credit meters for gas and electricity supplies.

Michael Fallon: Some landlords include the use of prepayment meters in the terms of the tenancy agreement because the payment method helps tenants who are not in debt for their energy to remain in credit, as they are required to pay for their energy in advance. Since 2010, most suppliers have chosen to equalise their prepayment meter tariffs with standard credit prices. These tenants may also switch supplier to get a better deal for the prepayment meter.

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 676W, on energy: prices 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG;
	(2)  who attended the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG.

Michael Fallon: The attendance list for the first and second ministerial roundtables on heating oil and LPG are in the minutes of both meetings, which are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: West Midlands

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on energy: finance, how much private sector investment has been made to help provide long-term sustainable energy in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Worcestershire and (c) Redditch.

Michael Fallon: DECC estimates suggest that there has been almost £40 billion investment in the electricity sector overall (generation and networks) since 2010. We have not collected these data at a regional level.
	However, DECC has collated announcements of planned investment in renewable electricity generation at a regional level. This indicates that, between January 2010 and September 2013, there was £17 million planned investment recorded for the west midlands region. I will be placing a copy of this database in the Libraries of the House.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hartlepool of 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 17W, on environment protection: taxation, what measures he is implementing to reduce the impact of policy on the costs of electricity for the most electricity-intensive industries.

Michael Fallon: The Government has already begun to implement a £380 million compensation scheme, which runs until March 2016, for electricity-intensive businesses, to help offset the indirect costs of the carbon price floor and the European Union emissions trading system. To date we have paid out over £26 million in compensation to help offset the indirect costs of the emissions trading system and await state aid clearance from the European Commission to begin payments in relation to the carbon price floor.
	In addition to this compensation, we are committed to providing relief for energy intensive industries from the costs of electricity market reform, also subject to state aid. We have already increased climate change levy (CCL) relief to 90% on electricity for businesses that are part of climate change agreements. From April 2014, we are also introducing an exemption from the CCL on both gas and electricity for mineralogical and metallurgical processes.

Fuel Poverty

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  for what reasons his Department has not made a full assessment of how many individuals have been removed from fuel poverty as a result of the Energy Companies Obligation;
	(2)  how his Department will measure the effectiveness of the Energy Companies Obligation alleviations fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: Assessments of the impact of individual policies on fuel poverty are complex and determined largely by both the details of the specific policy under consideration and their interaction with a large range of other policies relating to household energy use. We do seek to undertake comprehensive assessments of policy impacts on fuel poverty where possible, and usually this is part of a consultation or final stage impact assessment for an individual policy.
	In relation to the Energy Companies Obligation specifically, an impact assessment for the scheme will accompany a forthcoming consultation focusing on changes announced at the autumn statement 2013.

Housing: Insulation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment has been made of the effect on energy efficiency measures and planned changes to the ECO and CERO funding on (a) homes, (b) job creation and (c) jobs in the insulation industry.

Gregory Barker: The Government will shortly publish a consultation document on the proposed changes to ECO (including the CERO component) which were announced in December. This will be accompanied by an assessment of impacts, including estimates of employment and of the number of homes to be treated.

Housing: Insulation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that unsuitable cavity wall insulation is no longer used in homes that are prone to flooding or at risk of flooding.

Gregory Barker: The building regulations require that the insulation material used is suitable for the wall concerned. Under the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Government’s primary policies driving cavity wall insulation, energy efficiency measures (including cavity wall insulation) must be installed in accordance with the relevant standards set out in PAS 2030. Prior to commencing the physical installation of the cavity wall installation, the installer will undertake a pre-installation survey in accordance, as a minimum, with the requirements set out in the relevant sections of PAS 20301.
	1 See 5.2.1 “Undertaking the survey” in PAS2030.

Housing: Insulation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what financial assistance is available for homeowners whose homes have been affected by flooding to replace current insulation with material suitable for homes in flood risk areas.

Gregory Barker: On 12 February, the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive package of new measures to help homes, businesses and farmers hit by the floods. This £5,000 ‘repair and renew’ grant will top up any money received from insurers to ensure flood resilience is built into homes and businesses as they are repaired. If the cost of resilient repair to insulation cannot be met by the insurer, then they may be able to claim from this grant. The Government is working up the details of the scheme, and will announce it shortly.
	Affected householders will also be able to access Green Deal finance and the Green Deal cash-back scheme to provide additional sources of funding to replace or install insulation and wider energy efficiency measures.

Housing: Insulation

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many solid wall properties remain to be insulated in the UK.

Gregory Barker: DECC publish regular estimates of home insulation levels in Great Britain. The most recent publication, which contains estimates for the end of September 2013, estimated that there are around 7.6 million uninsulated solid wall properties in Great Britain. Estimates for Northern Ireland are not available, and therefore there is no UK estimate.
	The full publication is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-september-2013

Insulation: Housing

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what target he has set for hard-to-treat cavity homes to receive Energy Company Obligation funding.

Gregory Barker: Under the current rules of the energy company obligation (ECO), obligated energy companies are set targets for carbon savings to be met from insulation and other measures, including hard-to-treat cavities. The Government announced in December proposals for changes to ECO which would, among other things, make for a greater role for standard ("easy-to-treat") cavities. A consultation document will be published shortly.
	Neither under current rules nor the proposed new rules is there a specific target for the number of hard-to-treat cavity homes to be treated.

Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers.

Gregory Barker: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Minister's Office Size (sq m) Associated Private Office staff 
			 Secretary of State, Edward Davey 53.3 7 staff comprising AO x 1, HEO x 1, FASTSTREAM x 3, Grade 6 x 1 and Grade 5 x 1 
			 Minister of State, Gregory Barker 42.6 6 staff comprising AO x 1, EO x 2, FASTSTREAM x 2 and Grade 7 x 1 
			 Minister of State, Michael Fallon 40.5 5 staff comprising EO x 2, HEO x l, FASTSTREAM x l and Grade 7 x 1 
			 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Verma 29 4 staff comprising EO x 2, HEO x 1 and Grade 7 x 1

Natural Gas: Prices

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of average savings for gas customers arising from reductions in spending on the gas mains replacement programme.

Michael Fallon: Decisions on, and assessment of, the Iron Mains Replacement Programme are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive, who engage with Ofgem.
	The iron mains replacement scheme was introduced by the Health and Safety Executive in 2002. It required gas distribution networks (GDNs) to replace all iron mains within 30 metres of a property over 30 years. Iron mains expenditure constituted 70% of GDNs capital expenditure during the last price control (£3.5 billion between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2013) and it is expected to form a similar proportion in the next price control (1 April 2013 to 31 March 2021).
	In 2012 the Health and Safety Executive undertook a review of the scheme, details of which can be reviewed here:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr888.htm
	A number of considerations including potential cost impacts led HSE to announce a more flexible policy under which GDNs use more innovative ways to reduce risk, such as through pipe insertion/spray lining, rather than just decommissioning.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions there are for workers across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate to relocate to other sites.

Michael Fallon: There are provisions for workers across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate to relocate to other sites. These provisions are managed through historical collective agreements and also, more recently, through a Transition Framework which has been specifically designed for this purpose and subject to local consultation with workers and their representatives to encourage movement around the estate.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether all grades of workers on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate will be given opportunities to relocate and access reskilling.

Michael Fallon: All grades of workers on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate will be given opportunities to relocate and access reskilling.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy that any company involved in illegal blacklisting should not be awarded a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority contract.

Michael Fallon: The awarding of contracts by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is an operational matter for the authority. Contracts are awarded in full compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2006. These set out the criteria on which a company may be excluded from a tender process.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has undertaken any work to provide current Magnox employees opportunities to engage in nuclear new build.

Michael Fallon: It is up to energy companies to construct, operate and decommission nuclear power stations, and industry has set out its plans to develop approximately 16GW of new nuclear power in the UK. The retention of nuclear skills across the industry is an issue that has been rightly raised as a priority and one that the Nuclear Industry Council, alongside the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance, is seeking to address.

Ofgem

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish all correspondence and minutes of meetings between his Department and Ofgem relating to the R110-ED1 process.

Michael Fallon: Discussions on the RIIO-ED1 Price Control is an integral and routine part of the Department's discussion with Ofgem on distribution network matters, both at ministerial and official level. These discussions are frequent and numerous and providing this information could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	A number of documents that are already publicly available are:
	The response by the former Minister of State for Energy, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), to the RIIO-ED1 Strategy consultation, which can be found at:
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/47160/deccresponse-open-letter-ref-1512.pdf
	Smart Grid Forum minutes. DECC co-chairs this industry group with Ofgem. A key focus of the work over the past 12 to 18 months has been DNO preparation for RIIO ED1. Minutes and other details can be found at:
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/electricity/distribution-networks/forums-seminars-and-working-groups/decc-and-ofgem-smart-grid-forum
	Ofgem's RIIO ED1 working groups to discuss matters of interest to their particular policy areas. DECC regularly attends these groups and the meeting minutes can be found at:
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/network-regulation-%E2%80%93-riio-model/riio-forums-seminars-and-working-groups/riio-ed1-working-groups

Radioactive Waste

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether it is his policy that all nuclear waste and spent fuel from the UK should be stored and treated in the UK.

Michael Fallon: Government policy on spent fuel in the UK is that the question of whether or not to reprocess it and if so when, is a matter for the commercial owner of the spent fuel. To date, spent fuel originating in the UK has always been managed in the UK but our policy does not preclude owners from sending their spent fuel elsewhere for treatment, subject to regulatory requirements. In such cases the resulting waste would be returned to the UK for storage and eventual disposal.
	Nuclear waste is a devolved matter; therefore the policy for its management is for the devolved Administrations to determine. UK Government policy regarding nuclear waste is that we do not import or export waste for disposal, except under some very restricted and clearly defined circumstances.

Radioactive Waste

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he plans to reconvene his Geological Disposal Implementation Board for radioactive waste.

Michael Fallon: The Government is considering responses to its recent consultation on potential revision of the siting process for a geological disposal facility (GDF). As part of that, further consideration is being given to the format and structure of the Geological Disposal Implementation Board (GDIB) alongside other potential engagement mechanisms. The Government aims to publish its conclusions later in the year.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of likely expenditure on renewables under the levy control framework in 2013-14.

Michael Fallon: The Levy Control Framework (LCF) allows Government to control public expenditure paid for through consumers' energy bills, and reflects the importance Government places on monitoring and controlling spending on levy schemes that are funded in this way.
	The two renewables schemes covered by the LCF in 2013-14 are the Renewables Obligation (RO) and the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. Estimated spend for that year on the RO is £2,379 million in real terms (2011-12 prices, for comparability with the LCF) or £2,583 million in nominal terms (2013-14 prices), and for FITs is approximately £596 million (2011-12 prices) or £647 million (2013-14 prices).
	Total estimated spend on renewable technologies for 2013-14 is therefore £2,975 million in real terms (2011-12 prices) or £3,231 million in nominal terms (2013-14 prices).

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for each renewable technology have been made for 33kW connections under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 over the last 12 months.

Michael Fallon: Applicants seeking consent from the Secretary of State for an overhead electricity line under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are not required to specify in their applications the purpose for which the section 37 consent is required, i.e. whether to connect distributed generation or other purpose. The Department therefore does not hold complete or readily accessible data on the information requested.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons his Department supported the five-year contract award to Nuclear Management Partners to manage the Sellafield site.

Michael Fallon: The Government approved the contract with Sellafield Ltd under the ownership of Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) in 2008. The contract is for a 17 year period, with fixed review points at 5, 5, 5 and 2 year intervals. The contract review at the first break point, and the decision to continue with the contract into a second five year period, was an operational matter for the NDA. The NDA reached its decision based on a thorough review of performance in the first period of the contract and consideration of all available options. The Government endorsed the NDA's decision on the basis that it represents the best way forward at this time, giving NMP the opportunity to build on the progress made in the first five years of its contract for Sellafield Ltd (it has met some 90% of its targets to date and safety at the site has improved), address weaker areas of performance, and make further real progress in this next five year term.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which other companies or management partnerships were considered for the parent body contract for the management of Sellafield.

Michael Fallon: Tender submissions were received from:
	CH2MHill Nuclear Services Ltd
	Fluor Ltd in partnership with Toshiba
	Nuclear Management Partners Ltd consisting: URS' Washington Division, AMEC and AREVA NC
	SBB Nuclear, consisting: Serco, Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what value-for-money audit has been applied to Nuclear Management Partners in respect of its discharge of its period managing Sellafield as a parent body organisation.

Michael Fallon: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) Management & Operations (M&O) contract is with Sellafield Ltd, currently owned by Nuclear Management Partners (NMP). Funding, covering all allowable costs and fees for work undertaken are paid through the M&O contract direct to Sellafield; there is no direct cash flow between the NDA and NMP. These costs and fees, together with delivery performance, are subject to a range of different assurance reviews and audits by the NDA. Sellafield also has and will continue to be subject to value for money audits by the National Audit Office.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on withdrawing the indemnification against liabilities awarded to Nuclear Management Partners in 2008.

Michael Fallon: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) included the indemnity against certain third party nuclear liabilities falling outside the scope of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 in its contract with Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) as the new Parent Body Organisation for Sellafield in 2008. There was and is no viable commercial insurance available to cover such liabilities and none of the bidders were prepared to accept liability for uninsurable claims. Given the low probability of a claim being brought against the indemnity, the NDA assessed that the benefits of contracting with the NMP outweighed the small risk that the indemnity may be called upon. The NDA has no plans to withdraw the indemnity.

Sellafield

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of criticisms contained in the Committee of Public Accounts' Report, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Managing Risk at Sellafield, 24th Report of Session 2012-13 HC 746, of the way the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has handled redactions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Fallon: We welcome the Public Accounts Committee's latest report into progress at Sellafield and take the concerns that they have raised very seriously. We will consider the detailed findings and recommendations of the report carefully before providing a full response in due course.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total capacity of large scale solar PV installations in the UK with a capacity of greater than 5MWp.

Gregory Barker: As at the end of December, the figure for total operational capacity is 318 MW:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-section-6-energy-trends

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the amount of large scale solar PV with capacity greater than 5MWp which will be installed in 2014.

Gregory Barker: The Renewable Energy Planning Database publishes monthly data on renewable energy projects which have received planning permission and which are either under construction or awaiting construction. The total capacity listed at the end of December as under or awaiting construction is 1504 MW over 122 sites. However, it is probable that a proportion of those will not proceed to construction or may be commissioned in later years.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much large scale solar PV with capacity of greater than 5MWp he estimates will be installed by 2020 under his Department's Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan.

Gregory Barker: The modelling for the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan showed a deployed range of between 2.4 GW and 4 GW:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-market-reform-delivery-plan

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the Atomic Energy Authority Police adhere to the College of Policing standards.

Michael Fallon: The Civil Nuclear Constabulary works extensively with the College of Policing in order to achieve and maintain its firearms licence through the appropriate management, command and deployment of its authorised firearms officers, therefore ensuring compliance with the code of practice for the police use of firearms and less lethal weapons. The Constabulary has held a College of Policing Firearms Licence since 2011 and has recently put itself forward for re-accreditation and is currently awaiting the result.
	The Secretary of State receives regular assurance from the Civil Nuclear Police Authority on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of services carried out by his Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is fully committed to the Welsh language and to providing services in the Welsh language where there is demand for them.
	The Department has published its Welsh Language Scheme, approved by the Welsh Language Board on 29 March 2012 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/about/welsh-language-scheme
	It has since provided the Welsh Commissioner with its first annual report on progress against commitments on 12 July 2013.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Finance

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the regional variation in arts and culture funding from her Department.

Edward Vaizey: Funding from the Department for the arts and the Renaissance regional museums programme is distributed independently of Government by Arts Council England, which should ensure equitable access to its funding across the country. DCMS also provides grant-in-aid to 15 sponsored museums and galleries and the British Library, including their regional branches. Decisions on how to invest grant-in-aid are made by those ALUs, independently of Government, however, within their settlements, I expect the national museums to work in partnership with other museums in the UK, through loans, exchanges of expertise, education programmes, conservation and community projects. Since 2002, a joint Fund between DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation has also made £26 million available for capital improvements to museums and galleries in the regions.
	In the same way English Heritage distribute grants for heritage. These have an impact throughout the country. In 2012-13, English Heritage distributed nearly £12 million in grants to nine regions in England. Spend was not biased towards any one region but distributed throughout the country; spend in London for example accounted for 12% of the total grant spend. The region with the highest proportion of spend in 2012-13 was the East of England with 15.73% of total spend.

Arts: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much arts funding (a) in total and (b) per head of population was allocated in (i) the North-West and (ii) Warrington in each year since 2010.

Edward Vaizey: Public funding for the arts is administered by Arts Council England (ACE) and local authorities. ACE makes its funding decisions independently of Government and as such DCMS does not hold the information requested. Nearly £3 billion pounds will be invested in the arts by ACE over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Broadcasting: Chinese

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the BBC Trust and the Arts Council on encouraging the BBC and other broadcasters to use British Chinese actors and presenters in their broadcasts; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: I regularly meet with the BBC and Arts Council to discuss a range of issues. Last month I met with leading figures from the world of television, film and the performing arts, including the BBC and Arts Council England, to discuss what more could be done to improve the numbers of people from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds we have working in our creative industries. It was agreed that industry leaders need to be much more accountable for improving the current under-representation we find. A follow up meeting to check on progress being made is scheduled to take place in the next few months.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2013, Official Report, column 434W, on children: day care, how many childcare business grants have been allocated through the childcare business grant scheme in each month; and what estimate she has made of when funding under this scheme will cease.

Helen Grant: An announcement on the future of the scheme will be made in due course. The total number of grants awarded as at the end of January 2014 is 2,021.

Culture

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the recommendations in the report, Rebalancing our Cultural Capital by Peter Stark, Christopher Gordon and David Powell.

Edward Vaizey: The Government notes the analysis of Rebalancing our Cultural Capital. Decisions on the distribution of funding to the arts are made independently of Government by Arts Council England, which should ensure equitable access to its funding across the country.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Government Minister signed off the transfer of ownership of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744 to Lord Lingfield's charity.

Edward Vaizey: The Deed of Gift was signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with Odyssey Marine Exploration regarding the excavation of HMS Victory 1744; and what was discussed at each such meeting.

Edward Vaizey: At a recent roundtable meeting, I met a representative of Wreck Watch International, who is also a consultant to Odyssey Marine Exploration. This was in his capacity as archaeological contractor to the Maritime Heritage Foundation. The future management of the wreck was discussed.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received from Lord Lingfield or his representatives on the future of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744.

Edward Vaizey: Representations concerning the wreck site and its future management have been received from Lord Lingfield and his representatives.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 331W, on HMS Victory, what topics were discussed and conclusions arrived at during the meeting referred to in the answer; and whether officials were present at that meeting.

Edward Vaizey: The future management of the wreck was discussed. The Maritime Heritage Foundation has been asked to provide a revised Management Plan for the site which will be submitted to the Government and the Advisory Group prior to any permissions being granted by the Secretary of State for Defence. Officials were present at the meeting.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, under what conditions and criteria her Department bestows ownership of discovered British shipwrecks on private individuals.

Edward Vaizey: The Department has not bestowed ownership of discovered British shipwrecks on private individuals.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, under what conditions and criteria her Department decides either to salvage discovered British shipwrecks or to leave them to remain as war graves.

Edward Vaizey: The management of historic wreck sites must be compliant with the Rules set out in the Annex to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 410W, on HMS Victory, which body claimed ownership or responsibility for the wreck of HMS Victory 1744 prior to its transfer to Lord Lingfield's charity.

Edward Vaizey: The wreck was Sovereign Immune, and therefore property of the Crown. As a military vessel, the Ministry of Defence took on responsibility for HMS Victory 1744.

Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with internet service providers on establishing common standards for automatic internet filtering software in respect of (a) the kind of material causing a website to be blocked and (b) the process for appealing wrongly blocked websites.

Edward Vaizey: Government engages with internet service providers regularly, through the UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) on measures to keep children safe online. As a result of this engagement, the four main internet service providers have committed to giving their customers an easy way to install family-friendly filters that will protect all devices in the home. These allow parents to prevent their children from accessing potentially harmful content.
	The categories of content offered as part of their family-friendly filters is a matter for the internet service providers, in some cases following consultation with their customers.
	Government asked that a UKCCIS working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to sexual health advice and support services.

Edward Vaizey: Government has asked that a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to websites and forums run by or for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people.

Edward Vaizey: The Government has asked that a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) working group, including charities and parents' groups, be established to consider the effectiveness of family friendly filters and inadvertent over-blocking of content which is not harmful, including sites which provide advice and support.

Local Broadcasting: Radio

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish her consultation on statutory restrictions on community radio.

Edward Vaizey: DCMS published the consultation on community radio funding restrictions on 13 February and it will remain open until 23 April 2014. The consultation can be found on the Gov.UK website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments %5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&publication _filter_option=consultations

Members: Correspondence

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West dated 28 November 2013 and 8 January 2014 on the effect of the changes to the art, craft and design curriculum on the creative industries and the correspondence received by the National Society for Education in Art and Design from the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage on 24 June 2013.

Edward Vaizey: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 February 2014.

National Museum of Computing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about disagreements between the Bletchley Part Trust and the National Museum of Computing over public access and ticketing; and what steps he is taking to help resolve such disagreements.

Edward Vaizey: I have received one representation relating to disagreements between the Bletchley Part Trust and the National Museum of Computing and I have written to the correspondent, urging the parties to work together for the good of Bletchley and take up the offer of mediation made by Arts Council England.

Sports: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether an impact assessment was carried out in respect of the decision by UK Sport to reduce funding for synchronised swimming and water polo.

Helen Grant: UK Sport assesses the impact of all of its investment decisions as part of the Annual Invest Review process. These assessments were considered by UK Sport's Board during the decision-making process. We recognise that athletes and staff will be significantly affected by a decision to withdraw funding. Therefore, UKS will be working with the sports to develop appropriate transitional arrangements.

Swimming

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Sport England has given to local authorities for the provision of public swimming facilities in each of the last three years.

Helen Grant: Since 2011 Sport England has invested a total of almost £25.6 million in 98 public swimming facility projects. Annual breakdown of spend:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2011-12 1,498,376 
			 2012-13 10,861,042 
			 2013-14 13,206,346

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure the restoration of damaged war memorials over the course of the First World War centenary.

Helen Grant: There is significant funding available across the UK for the conservation and repair of war memorials including my Department's Memorials Grant Scheme. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced a further £5 million for first world war memorials and burial sites to ensure that they are in a fit state for this historic centenary.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking over the next four years to commemorate those hon. Members and Peers who fell during the First World War.

Helen Grant: The Government is encouraging the widest engagement with the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. I commend the work led by my noble Friend Lord Wallace of Saltaire, my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland (Mr Simpson) and House officials in marking Parliament's history of the period, and that of those who worked there. The programme's aim is to make this history better known to the public, and in particular to young people, from August 2014 and across the centenary period. My right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman) is leading on a preceding event, a concert in Westminster Hall on 9 July 2014 by the Parliamentary Choir and the Bundestag Choir.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK citizens to visit the battlefields of northern France over the course of the First World War commemorations.

Helen Grant: There will be a number of commemorative events at famous Western Front battlefields during the centenary. In addition, we are providing the opportunity for 12,000 secondary school pupils and teachers to visit key battlefields. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is working hard to ensure that all their immaculate sites are fit for the significant number of people that we expect will wish to visit them during the centenary.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage foreign tourists to visit sites in the UK of relevance to the First World War.

Helen Grant: VisitBritain is actively engaged in encouraging foreign tourists to visit UK first world war sites including an updated GREAT campaign heritage guide. In addition, VisitBritain is briefing their missions globally to provide information on the forthcoming commemorations. VisitBritain will also actively promote centenary events over their social media platforms.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other European nations on co-operation over the commemoration of the First World War between now and 2018.

Helen Grant: There have been numerous discussions with both European and international counterparts about the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War at both ministerial and official level. We expect these discussions to continue and intensify as the start of the centenary approaches.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from the British Overseas Territories who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary.

Helen Grant: The Government will ensure that wherever possible, and in the spirit of the 2012 White Paper, the UK's Overseas Territories are appropriately represented and their contributions recognised as part of our centenary commemorations. We continue to look for appropriate opportunities for commemorative activities to recognise the sacrifices made by the people of the Overseas Territories.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from Commonwealth nations who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary.

Helen Grant: The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with a programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects from 4 August this year through to Armistice Day in 2018. The significant and important contribution of all our Commonwealth partners will be commemorated as an integral part of our programme, and indeed the very first event in the UK national programme is a service of remembrance for the Commonwealth at Glasgow Cathedral. We could not have prevailed in 1918 without them.

World War I: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the importance of education about the First World War over the next four years.

Helen Grant: I am working with a number of ministerial colleagues to deliver a broad and engaging Government programme to commemorate the centenary. This includes the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), whose Department is co-funding the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, which begins in spring 2014. The programme will enable teachers to develop their knowledge of the First World War. They, and the pupils going on the visits, will bring back a deeper understanding of the conflict to support their school's own projects and commemorative activities.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Accountancy: EU Action

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the EU proposal to update the accounting directives to include non-financial reporting for large companies; and if he will support amendments to the legislation to require companies to report in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Jennifer Willott: The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) sets out a globally recognised framework that outlines the roles of states and business in protecting human rights in business situations. In September 2013, the UK was the first Government to publish an implementation plan that makes clear the Government's commitment to protect human rights and sets out the clear expectations for UK businesses in this area.
	In addition to our commitment to these voluntary principles, the UK Government recently introduced mandatory company reporting requirements on human rights, where relevant to an understanding of the business, in the recently adopted changes to the Companies Act 2006. In line with our domestic efforts, the UK has actively supported the inclusion of human rights reporting in negotiations on the draft EU directive on non-financial reporting. While discussions are ongoing, the UK agrees with the proposal that companies may rely on certain international frameworks including the UNGP.

Aerospace Industry

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist the aerospace industry.

Michael Fallon: We are working closely with the aerospace industry through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) which, in March 2013, published the UK Aerospace Industrial Strategy. This sets out an ambitious plan to keep the UK at the forefront of world aerospace manufacturing and ensure that we can address the challenges of increasing global competition and changes in technology.
	The Strategy is supported by the devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the latter publishing a ‘Northern Ireland Partnering for Growth' document earlier this month, setting out how the work of the AGP on civil aerospace is being taken forward there.
	A key development, set out in the UK Strategy, is an agreement by industry and Government to commit over £2 billion for aerospace research and development over seven years from 2013/14, through the creation of an Aerospace Technology Institute. This provides industry with the certainty it needs to invest in the UK.
	The Government recently announced ATI funding of £60 million in new aerospace facility at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and a further £13 million to improve the research capacity of wind tunnel facilities at seven universities.
	We expect to announce further R&D projects shortly, including those resulting from a competition run by the Technology Strategy Board last autumn.
	In addition, the AGP has launched a National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) to help small and medium-sized companies develop innovative technologies to increase their ability to win new business with higher tier companies anywhere in the world. This is a £40 million programme, backed with £23 million of public funding won competitively through the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative. We expect to announce the first winning projects shortly along with arrangements for future bidding opportunities.
	The AGP is also creating 500 additional masters (MSc) level postgraduate places for aerospace, over three years, backed with joint investment by industry and Government of £6 million. Over 100 bursaries were awarded last year, with 15% going to women. The remaining bursaries will be awarded this year and next.

Apprentices

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalents were employed through the National Apprenticeship Service in April (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; and if he will estimate that figure for April (i) 2014 and (ii) 2015.

Matthew Hancock: The average number of staff employed during the following financial years within National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) is as follows:
	
		
			 FY Average FTE (employed during the year) 
			 2011-12 332 
			 2012-13 324 
		
	
	The NAS was integrated into the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) on 1 April 2013 from which point the delivery of the NAS has been a function of the wider SFA. Information for 2013-14 will be included in our annual report and accounts for 2013-14 which is due to be published in June 2014. An interim figure is available per the hard close accounts at 31 December 2013 but this information is subject to audit. We can include this as an unaudited average FTE number for Apprenticeships Division from April 2013 to December 2013 if required.

Apprentices

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of apprentices in each of the UK's 20 largest cities as a proportion of the local labour force in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of apprentices employed in each of the UK's 20 largest cities by level of (a) study and (b) apprenticeship in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Matthew Hancock: Information on apprenticeship starts by geography and level is published in a Supplementary Table to a Statistical First Release:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3D49B725-2FD2-451E-9A5E-116D788E43F4/0/Nov2013_Apprenticeship StartsbyGeoqraphyLevelAge.xls
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/
	We do not hold apprenticeship data by labour market information, but local labour market information is available from the Annual Population Survey:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

Apprentices

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment has been made as to how level 3 apprenticeships will be funded via the adult skills budget in 2014-15;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the effect of funding level 3 apprenticeships via the adult skills budget on apprenticeships and other qualifications.

Matthew Hancock: On 13 February, the Government laid regulations to remove apprenticeships from the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans scheme. These are set to come into force on 7 March and will make advanced-level and higher apprenticeship frameworks for those aged 24 and over eligible for funding from the adult skills budget (ASB).
	The Apprenticeships Programme is demand-led, with the number, level and sector spread of apprenticeships being determined by employers.

Assets

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on which occasions the locked box mechanism has been used to establish the acquisition price in the sale of a public asset; and how he intends to set the acquisition price for the sale of (a) the Government's shareholding in Eurostar International Ltd and (b) London and Continental Railways property assets.

Michael Fallon: In the last five years, the Shareholder Executive has used the locked box mechanism in the sale of Plasma Resources UK and mortgage style student loans.
	No decision has been made to sell either the Government's shareholding in Eurostar or London and Continental Railways’ property assets.

Business

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of micro businesses are run by (a) women and (b) people of each age group.

Matthew Hancock: Estimates from the BIS Small Business Survey show that 16.7% of micro1 businesses in the UK were either solely led by women, or had a management team of which the majority were women. A total of 48.3% of micro businesses have at least one woman on the management team. We do not hold information on the age of people running micro businesses.
	1 Micro businesses are defined as private sector businesses with 1 to 9 employees.

Business: EU Grants and Loans

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist small and medium-sized enterprises gain access to EU funding.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not provide specific services to help SMEs to access EU funding. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) currently fulfils this role. However the Department supports SMEs through EU funds via our business support programmes, such as GrowthAccelerator, Manufacturing Advisory Service and UKTI trade services.
	BIS's British Business Bank officials assist with a number of regional JEREMIE funds which incorporate European money across northern England (North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and the Humber). The JEREMIE funds administer over £150 million of ERDF funding from the 2007-13 Structural Funds Programme which with matched private sector contributions gives total fund size of over £350 million.
	For 2014-20 EU Structural and Investment Funds programme, the Government has asked local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) to work with local partners to determine the priorities for their areas. This locally driven approach will ensure that funds are better targeted to support SMEs. The devolved Administrations are responsible for the design and delivery of these funds in their own nations.
	There is also a new programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) 2014-20 which will target SMEs specifically and has 60% of its budget of £1.9 billion devoted to financial instruments thus enabling access to finance and encouraging investment into the SME sector. This programme will be launched in March both at the national and regional levels in the UK.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the number and proportion of employers that offer (a) employer supported childcare vouchers, (b) workplace nursery provision, (c) flexible working arrangements not including part-time work, (d) enhanced maternity leave and pay, (e) enhanced paternity leave and pay and (f) any other measures to assist employees with childcare.

Jennifer Willott: The Sixth Workplace Employment Relations Study shows that, in 2011, workplaces provided flexible working arrangements (not including part-time work), enhanced maternity pay, and paternity pay to employees as shown in the table.
	Currently there is a not a suitable source for estimates of the availability of enhanced paternity and maternity leave. However, this information will be available in the forthcoming Fourth Work-life Balance Employer Survey.
	
		
			  Measure Proportion of workplaces which offer measure (%) 
			    
			 (c) Flexible working arrangements not including part-time work  
			  —Reduced hours 56 
			  —Flexitime 34 
			  —Work from home 30 
			  —Compressed working week 19 
			  —Job share 17 
			  —Term-time only 16 
			    
			 (d) Enhanced maternity leave and pay  
			  —Leave 1— 
			  —Pay 27 
			    
			 (e) Enhanced paternity leave and pay  
			  —Leave 1— 
			  —Pay 21 
			 1 Estimates of the availability of enhanced maternity and paternity leave are not available at present, but will be available in the forthcoming Fourth Work-life Balance Employer Survey (these data were not collected in the third Work-life Balance Employer Survey). Base: All workplaces with five or more employees. Source: Workplace Employment Relations Study First Findings, standard comparison tables and book. 2011 
		
	
	The 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study First Findings and standard comparison tables were published by BIS in 2013 and can be found on GOV.uk. The book of the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study—van Wanrooy et al (2013) Employment Relations in the Shadow of Recession—was published by Palgrave Macmillan.
	In terms of the availability of child care vouchers, workplace nursery provision and other measures to assist with child care, the only available source for this information is the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey. Unlike the above source, which interviews employers and provides an estimate of the number of workplaces providing each measure, these interviews are conducted with employees. As a result the following data are presented in terms of the proportion of employees to whom each measure is available, rather than the proportion of workplaces which offer each measure.
	The latest Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey shows that, in 2009-10, workplaces made available employer-supported child care vouchers, workplace nursery provision, and other measures to assist employees with child care as follows:
	
		
			  Measure Proportion of mothers who said measure was available to them (%) 
			 (a) Child care vouchers or other help with paying for child care 54 
			 (b) Workplace nursery provision 8 
			 (f) Other measures to assist employees with child care  
			  —Access to telephone for family reasons 54 
			  —Retraining on return from maternity leave 28 
			  —Career breaks for family reasons 21 
		
	
	
		
			  —Help in finding child care 4 
			  —Other child care supported by employer 2 
			 Base: Mothers who were employees in their first post-birth job. Source: Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey, 2009/10, BIS, 2011 
		
	
	The Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey was published by BIS and the Department for Work and Pensions in 2011 and can be found on GOV.UK.

Copyright

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure full copyright protection for artistic design where copyright is revived by bringing regulation 24 of the Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995 in line with section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

David Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), currently has no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to alter regulation 24 of the Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995.
	The impact of compulsory licensing in works where copyright is revived is being considered as part of the Government’s consultation process on the timing of the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the criminal proceedings instituted in other EU member states against UK registered companies, following the delay in repealing section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

David Willetts: The UK Government does not comment on ongoing criminal proceedings. Any company, regardless of where it is registered, should act in accordance with the laws of the relevant EU member state.
	The Government will be consulting further on when to implement the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Higher Education: Finance

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  with reference to line (m) of Annex 2 to his Department's grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England dated 10 February 2014, what proportion of the budget increase between 2014-15 and 2013-14 arose from (a) increased numbers of students and (b) higher average fees per student;
	(2)  with reference to line (m) of Annex 2 to his Department's grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England dated 10 February 2014, what assumed number of students in 2014-15 and 2015-16 was used to calculate the budget as published;
	(3)  with reference to line (m) of Annex 2 to his Department's grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England dated 10 February 2014, what assumed average student fee in 2014-15 and 2015-16 was used to calculate the budget as published.

David Willetts: The estimates of 'fee income from students subject to regulated fees' assume that full-time entrants will increase from around 345,000 in 2013/14 to 375,000 in 2014/15 and 390,000 in 2015/16.
	The estimates also assume an average fee income per full-time student of £7,900 in 2014/15 and £8,100 in 2015/16. These figures are intended to represent the expected income net of fee waivers and non-completion.
	As such, they are based on average fee loan data published by the Student Loans Company in November 2013. For students at public providers this average was £7,690 in 2012/13. The estimates do not assume any increase in the £9,000 fee cap; information from the Office for Fair Access shows that the average fee level increased in 2013 and 2014 despite the fee cap remaining at £9,000.
	The following table shows the published estimates of fee income along with (a) what they would have been without the release of the student number controls announced in the autumn statement and (b) what they would have been if, additionally, the average fee income had been assumed to remain at the 2013/14 level:
	
		
			 Estimated fee income 
			 £ million 
			  2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 
			 As published at line (m) 5,600 7,000 8,200 
			 (a) Without additional entrants from 2014/15 - 6,900 7,800 
			 (b) As (a), but with average fee at 2013/14 level - 6,800 7,600

Higher Education: Special Educational Needs

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will provide funding for young adults on EHCPs between the ages of 19 to 25 who are able and wish to go on to higher education.

David Willetts: Securing a place at university is a positive outcome for any young person. Where a young person with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) has the talent and ambition, their EHCP should put in place the right level of provision and support to enable them to achieve that goal.
	Higher education has its own system of support, and a range of help is available for eligible students. Those with a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia can access disabled students allowances (DSAs), which are non-means tested and can help pay the extra costs a student may incur because of their disability while undertaking a course of higher education.
	In academic year 2011-12 around 53,000 full-time students received DSAs totalling £125.1 million. The Higher Education Funding Council for England also provided £13 million in 2012-13 and £15 million in 2014-15 to help institutions widening access and improving provision for disabled students.
	Draft regulations and the draft 0-25 SEN Code of Practice, which set out more detail about local authorities' functions under the Children and Families Bill, make clear that they must share a copy of the EHCP with the relevant higher education institution and with the DSA assessor, with a young person's consent; and that local authorities should make young people aware of support available to them in higher education through their local offer, including the disabled students allowance (DSA) and how to make an early claim so that support is in place when they start their course.

ICT: Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding or support his Department has provided to the Year of Code.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not given any funding to the Year of Code.

New Businesses: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to support start-up businesses in Barnsley.

Matthew Hancock: Small businesses are vital to the economy and this Government is supporting them in many ways.
	Of course, economic stability, lower taxes, deregulation, and a culture of enterprise are vital to business growth.
	www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the ‘Finance Finder;' a searchable database of publicly-backed sources of finance.
	The BIS guide “SME access to finance schemes: measures to support small and medium-sized enterprise growth” is available on the same website by searching for the title and provides details on the main forms of public support available to businesses. The website
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	also provides support and advice for businesses trying to grow as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.
	In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs.
	For those looking for start up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 20 loans worth £83,700 have been drawn down in Barnsley since the scheme began in 2012.
	For businesses ready to go further there is GrowthAccelerator—a £200 million programme for up to 26,000 high growth potential small and medium-sized enterprises, providing them with expertise and networks to achieve sustainable growth.
	Finally, on 7 December 2013 the Government published 'Small Business: GREAT Ambition' which sets out the Government's commitment to supporting small businesses It responds to feedback from small businesses about how government can help at different points in their growth journey by making it easier to:
	Finance business growth by creating the right banking and investment environment and the most supportive tax regime in the world;
	Hire people by making employment processes more straightforward and promoting a more skilled workforce;
	Develop new ideas and products by helping businesses get access to the expertise, equipment and funding they need to turn great ideas into reality;
	Expand into new markets by removing barriers to certain sectors and providing advice and support for businesses trying to export;
	Get the right support at the right time by making support schemes easier to find and more relevant; and
	Get on with doing business by making sure regulation and the way it is enforced is proportionate and pro-growth.

Nuclear Power: Training

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the press release from his Department entitled Nuclear college to harness the power of skills training, published on 28 January 2014, what recent discussions he has had with training providers about existing capacity in the nuclear skills industry.

Matthew Hancock: The new college will be established to provide the high quality technical training that will be required for a growing nuclear industry, in line with our policy of establishing elite national centres to lead vocational education in key sectors of the economy. We would expect it to work closely with a network of existing colleges and private training providers to deliver programmes designed specifically for the nuclear industry, and to meet the increased demand for skills that will be generated by the new jobs.

Pay

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission research on the potential effects of adoption of a living wage on economic growth; and if he will make a statement.

Jennifer Willott: We have no plans to commission research on the effects of adoption of a living wage on economic growth or make a statement.
	Our key policy for supporting the low paid is the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is carefully set, by the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC), at a level that maximises the wages of the low paid without damaging their employment prospects by setting it too high.
	In addition, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has broadened the LPC's remit this year and asked them to look at the conditions that will allow for faster increases in the minimum wage in the future. The LPC are due to report to Government on this, alongside the 2014 NMW rates, shortly.

Retail Trade

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to promote independent retailers in high streets.

Michael Fallon: Actions included in the BIS Retail Strategy, published in October 2013, address barriers to growth for all retailers and help them prepare for the future.
	The recent autumn statement announced the biggest business rates support package for 20 years, worth over £1 billion in 2014-15.
	In the spring Government will also publish a discussion paper on the options for reform of business rates administration.
	We have also been working with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the Town Centre Support Package which was launched on Friday 6 December. As well as the announcement on business rates, the package includes:
	a number of initiatives on car parking;
	a review of Business Improvement Districts;
	consultations on new permitted development rights;
	making it easier to implement local development orders;
	guidance on retail land reviews;
	a call for evidence on red tape; and
	a competition launched by the Technology Strategy Board in January, worth up to £8 million for new 'digital high street' initiatives.
	This work builds on a range of other measures this Government has taken to help high streets:
	£2.3 million to support the 27 Portas Pilots;
	£10 million from the High Street Innovation Fund to support 100 towns with high vacancy rates and those affected by the riots;
	£500,000 loan fund for new Business Improvement Districts; and
	funded 350 Town Teams across the country.
	In addition, retailers can benefit from a range of measures Government has taken to support small businesses. 'Small business: GREAT ambition', published on 7 December 2014, is our commitment to making it easier for ambitious small businesses to grow. It responds to feedback from small businesses about how government can help at different points in their growth journey.
	The publication coincided with Small Business Saturday, which Government was pleased to support. Small Business Saturday was an opportunity for everyone to celebrate small local firms. On the day I visited a number of independent shops in my constituency and I am aware that many of my ministerial colleagues did the same.

Royal Mail

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish anonymised details of valuations of Royal Mail made by those banks that bid to be members of the syndicate selling the company.

Michael Fallon: The banks who bid to be members of the syndicate selling Royal Mail shares provided the range of valuations set out as follows. These banks only had access to information in the public domain when they were preparing their valuations.
	As the banks who appeared at the Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills on 20 November 2013 stressed in their evidence, their valuations were primarily desk top valuations based on limited publicly available information and widely varying assumptions. As one of the banks said:
	“We did not undertake any due diligence, and we did not have the benefit of any marketing or bookbuilding. It is quite difficult, in the first instance, to compare a bid that was submitted as part of an IPO adviser selection process with the final price at the time of an IPO. They really are incomparable”.
	These were, therefore, very much illustrative valuations which the banks produced several months before the IPO was implemented against a completely different backdrop (company, postal market and macro-economic). They, therefore, did not accurately reflect the specific circumstances and market that prevailed immediately prior to the IPO when pricing decisions were being taken.
	The range of potential valuations on an equity value basis at the low and high point is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Low High 
			 Range of potential valuations on an equity value basis 6,900 8,670 
			  5,900 6,500 
			  4,500 6,000 
			  5,500 6,000 
			  4,100 5,700 
			  4,660 5,160 
			  4,000 5,000 
			  4,000 5,000 
			  3,849 4,549 
			  3,500 4,500 
			  3,660 4,410 
			  3,300 4,400 
			  3,480 4,280 
			  3,710 4,210 
			  3,250 4,000 
			  3,500 4,000 
			  3,400 4,000 
			  3,000 4,000 
			  3,008 3,581 
			  3,100 3,500 
			  2,800 3,200

Royal Mail

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) median and (b) mean valuation of Royal Mail was provided by the banks that bid to be members of the syndicate selling the company.

Michael Fallon: The banks valuations were primarily illustrative desk top valuations based on limited publicly available information and widely varying assumptions and were made in the context of a selection process. As the banks have said they were not comparable with the final price at the time of an IPO.
	The median valuations were £3,660 million (lower range) and £4,410 (upper range).
	The mean valuations were £3,958 million (lower range) and £4,793 (upper range).

Royal Mail

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many banks which bid to be members of the syndicate selling Royal Mail provided a valuation to his Department that was higher than the amount the company was eventually valued at.

Michael Fallon: The banks valuations were primarily illustrative desk top valuations based on limited publicly available information and widely varying assumptions; and were made in the context of a selection process. As the banks have said, they were not comparable with the final price at the time of an IPO.
	At the lower range 15 bank, and at the upper range 20 bank, valuations were higher.

Royal Mail

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what fees have been paid to the banks advising the Government on the sale of Royal Mail to date.

Michael Fallon: The Government appointed Lazard to provide independent financial advice on the sale of Royal Mail shares. On the completion of the IPO their fees were £1.5 million. The underwriting banks shared £12.7 million for selling the shares. The underwriters' maximum fee of 1.2% of the institutional proceeds compares with 2.5% for the previous Government's flotation of QinetiQ. The underwriter's fee included a discretionary element of 0.3%. No decision has been made about the payment of this discretionary element.

Royal Mail

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Royal Mail shares were awarded to banks advising the Government on the sale of that company; and what the value of those shares (a) was at the time of the initial public offering and (b) now.

Michael Fallon: The banks advising the Government have not directly benefitted from the shares allocated to them. Separate divisions, in line with regulatory requirements, were allocated 13 million of the 600 million shares allocated in the IPO. The shares were held on behalf of their clients—many of whom are charities, universities and pensioners—and it is these clients who were the beneficiaries.
	The value of the shares at the IPO price was £42.9 million and £77.48 million at the close on 12 February.

Science: Higher Education

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which universities had departments of (a) biology, (b) chemistry, (c) physics, (d) electrical engineering, (e) mechanical engineering, (f) computing and (g) mathematics in (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) the latest date for which data is available.

David Willetts: Data on academic departments is not available; the closest approximation is the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) defined cost centres which have been structured to broadly align to an institution’s academic departments.
	Data provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) showing the number of students enrolled at English HE institutions by institution of study and cost centre for the academic years 2001/02, 2010/11 and 2011/12 has been provided in the tables which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Information for earlier years is not available on a comparable basis.

Science: Higher Education

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of publicly funded bursaries or scholarships available to students wishing to study (a) biology, (b) chemistry, (c) physics, (d) electrical engineering, (e) mechanical engineering, (f) computing and (g) mathematics at an undergraduate level was for the last three years for which figures are available.

David Willetts: There are no publicly funded bursaries or scholarships available to students based on the subject to be studied. Universities and colleges typically provide such bursaries or scholarships to students using their own resources. The Government does not collect data on the type of bursaries available or the eligibility conditions.
	In 2012 the Government introduced the National Scholarship Programme (NSP) to promote access to higher education among disadvantaged students. Only students whose family income is no greater than £25,000 per annum are eligible for an award. However, institutions are able to set their own local criteria to further target awards in a way that best meets the needs of their students. There is no requirement for institutions to target their awards by subject. Data collected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England show that 18 institutions have used subject as an eligibility criteria, although no information is available to show which subjects are involved or the value of those awards.
	The Government contributed £50 million to the NSP in 2012/13 and £100 million in 2013/14. On 28 November 2013 we announced that we were reducing Government's planned contribution in 2014/15 from £150 million to £50 million. From 2015/16 the NSP will cease as an undergraduate scheme with £50 million being re-focused to provide support to postgraduate students from less advantaged backgrounds.

Skills Funding Agency

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the average per head of population budget for the Skills Funding Agency in (a) England and (b) the 10 local authority areas where unemployment is highest.

Matthew Hancock: The grant funding for adult skills for further education (FE) learners aged 19+ in the 2013-14 financial year is £4.081 billion, which includes elements that do not form part of the Skills Funding Agency budget and is presented in the Skills Funding Statement 2013 to 2016:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-statement-2013-to-2016
	The adult (19+) population estimate for England in 2013 is 41 million1.
	FE funding is demand led and participation in local authorities and by benefit learners is presented in the Data Annex of the document provided above.
	1 Source-household population as measured by the Labour Force Survey Q3 2013

Social Services: Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to raise the minimum wage for care workers.

Jennifer Willott: The Government currently has no intention to bring forward legislative proposals to raise the minimum wage for care workers specifically.
	The Government always believed that the simplicity of the national minimum wage is an important strength as it is easy for employees to know what they are entitled to and for employers to know what to pay.
	Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. The Government are therefore committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and ensuring the effective enforcement of it.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Jennifer Willott: Since 2010 there has been an external recruitment freeze into the civil service. There are exemptions for “frontline” and “business critical” posts, consistent with the need to keep external recruitment low to deliver the Government's priorities and achieve cost reductions.
	Although we request that all applicants submit diversity declaration data, many choose not to do so. The low numbers of declarations in the categories requested mean we are not able to publish diversity information for these recruitment exercises. We continue to seek further ways to encourage more applicants to submit data.

Stem Cells: Research

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria are employed in the decision on which method of stem cell research to fund; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) receive their grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC supports the full spectrum of biomedical research, including stem cell science. In order to establish which areas of stem ceil research may deliver the most effective treatments for particular conditions the MRC's strategy is to support research on all types of stem cells to determine which routes should be pursued in the development of cell-based therapies. BBSRC supports research across the biosciences, including fundamental research that seeks to improve our understanding of the properties and behaviours of all stem cell types.
	In keeping with the Haldane principle decisions on research priorities and funding are taken by the Research Councils based on advice from the scientific community through peer review.
	The primary considerations in MRC and BBSRC funding decisions are the excellence of the proposal and its potential impact and additionally for the MRC the importance to health. In considering applications in stem cell science the MRC and BBSRC do not apply any additional criteria relating to one approach or methodology versus another.

Students: Loans

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether there has been any fall in participation in further education from learners aged 24 and above as a result of 24+ advanced learner loans;
	(2)  what change there has been in participation in further education from learners aged 24 and above as a result of 24+ advanced learner loans; and whether any such change was reflected in his Department's impact assessment of that policy.

Matthew Hancock: When Advanced Learning Loans were introduced, the Department carried out a thorough Regulatory Impact Assessment, and used survey data to understand the likely change in participation as a result of loans. This is published at the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISCore/further-education-skills/docs/F/12-873-further-education-advanced-learning-loans-regulatory-impact.pdf
	Information available for 2013/14 is provisional and as such does not allow us to show changes to the level of participation in further education with certainty.
	But the introduction of 24+ Loans appears to have been very successful for those studying at Level 3 and 4. Latest data available showed that by the end of December 2013 57,181 potential learners had applied for Loans.
	Since the 24+ programme was launched, it has become clear that 24+ Advanced Learning Loans are not the preferred funding route for employers or prospective Apprentices. In response to this, the Skills Funding Statement, published on 10 February 2014, announced that Apprenticeships will be removed from 24+ Advanced Learning Loans. Regulations were laid before Parliament on 13 February 2014 to bring this change into force from 7 March 2014.

Students: Loans

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what the average loan amount given to a learner under the 24+ advanced learner loan model is;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of each 24+ advanced learner loan which will never be repaid.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the average amount paid per learner under the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans programme is published online. Only payments made between August 2013 and October 2013 are captured:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/media/705979/slcosp012014.pdf
	http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics
	The Department models the proportion of loans which we expect will not be repaid (the RAB charge). The Regulatory Impact Assessment on the introduction of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans—published in June 2012—stated that we anticipated this RAB charge would be 60% of the total loan amount. This Impact Assessment can be found at the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISCore/further-education-skills/docs/F/12-873-further-education-advanced-learning-loans-regulatory-impact.pdf
	Now that we are beginning to receive figures on actual learner numbers, we can consider revising the assumptions within the RAB charge model. This 60% figure may therefore be subject to change in the future.

Students: Loans

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many applications have been received for non-apprenticeship further education loans so far under the 24+ advanced learner loans scheme;
	(2)  how many applications are anticipated in 2013-14 for non-apprenticeship further education loans;
	(3)  how many of the applications for non-apprenticeship further education loans have been subsequently accepted and paid;
	(4)  how many of the applications in total for further education loans have been subsequently accepted and paid.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of 24+ Advanced Learning Loan applications received between 8 April 2013 and 31 December 2013 is published online:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/other_statistics_and_research/24advancedlearningloans/
	The number of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans paid to Further Education Learning Providers on behalf of Further Education learners is also published online. Only payments made between August 2013 and October 2013 are captured:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/media/705979/slcosp012014.pdf
	http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics
	The 24+ Advanced Learning Loans programme is demand led and this will be reflected in the number of non-Apprenticeship loan applications received over an academic year.

Students: Loans

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the 24+ advanced learner loans budget for 2013-14 has been spent.

Matthew Hancock: Figures on the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans paid to Further Education Learning Providers on behalf of Further Education learners in August to October 2013/14 (provisional) are published online:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/media/705979/slcosp012014.pdf
	http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics

Technology

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to improve the ability of UK firms to adopt new technologies.

David Willetts: Through the Industrial Strategy, the whole of Government is working in partnership with industry to set the long term direction needed to give businesses the confidence to invest-creating more opportunities, skilled jobs and making the UK more competitive so that British businesses can thrive and compete with rising economies. The Industrial Strategy has five main strands: technologies, access to finance, skills, procurement and sectors.
	We are investing in emerging technologies, where the UK has the depth of research expertise and the business capability to develop and exploit these. This includes £600 million to develop and commercialise eight great technologies and over £500 million for seven Catapult centres to speed up technology commercialisation, getting products to market faster.
	The industrial strategy accelerates technology uptake through releasing constraints on the supply side but businesses themselves are best placed to make decisions on technology adoption. There are some exceptions, however, where there are clear market failures, such as CO2 emissions reductions, new energy technologies, improving waste utilisation, and rural broadband where specific policies improve technology uptake.
	We also help businesses accelerate the development and commercialisation of new technologies through the programmes delivered by Technology Strategy Board, including Collaborative R&D and Smart schemes, which are focused on supporting research and development projects in businesses, and the Small Business Research Initiative, which aims to provide business opportunities for innovative companies whilst solving the needs of Government Departments. The Technology Strategy Board also supports Knowledge Transfer Networks, which help increase the breadth and depth and rate of knowledge transfer of technology into UK-based businesses, and provides opportunities for innovative businesses through the growing network of Catapult centres.

Technology: Greater London

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills under what cost headings the £2 million of funding allocated by his Department to Tech City will be spent.

David Willetts: To date, Tech City has been funded by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). Projected UKTI expenditure for the financial year 2013-14 is £1.8 million, which is made up as follows:
	
		
			  Projected UKTI expenditure (£ million) 
			 Marketing 0.15 
			 Events 0.25 
			 Business specialists 1.3 
			 Civil servants 0.1 
		
	
	In future, Tech City will be funded by BIS: the levels and cost headings are currently under discussion.

Telephone Services

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's press release entitled Government cuts off costly calls, published on 13 December 2013, for what reasons banks and transport operators were not included in his Department's proposals to require private companies to use geographic rates for telephone enquiries.

Jennifer Willott: The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 implement the consumer rights directive and will come into effect in June 2014. They contain a “basic rate” provision. This means that a consumer telephoning a trader about something they have purchased should not be required to pay more than the basic rate for the call.
	This requirement will apply to transport operators. The exception is where travel is sold as part of a package. Package travel is subject to the package travel directive. A new directive is currently being negotiated and the current draft includes extending the “basic rate” provision in the consumer rights directive to package travel contracts.
	All financial services were excluded from the scope of the consumer rights directive on the basis that sector specific regulation was the more appropriate vehicle for this sector. There was support for this approach in response to BIS's consultation on the implementation of the directive. The industry regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, already has rules which limit the costs to consumer of making complaints. They are currently reviewing these in the light of the new regulation on basic rate and expect to consult on any resulting proposals for new rules later this year.

Vocational Training

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to release statistics on the progress of his traineeships programme; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Traineeships are a new programme and we do not have a reliable estimate of learners on the programme at present. We will publish the first set of data on Traineeships when reliable estimates are available.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: DCMS considers equality and the need to draw the best from a diverse work force in its day to day activity. While there are individuals who have particular responsibility for promoting equality and diversity, this is in addition to their other duties. The Department is unable to break down figures to show how much was spent on the equality and diversity aspect of their role. On 1 April 2013, The Government Equalities Office (GEO) joined DCMS under a Machinery of Government transfer. The Government Equalities Office works to take action on the Government's commitment to remove barriers to equality and help to build a fairer society, leading on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equalities. In this broader sense the whole of the staff of GEO and its programme spend is devoted to promoting equality and diversity.

Human Rights

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to ensure that her control of funding bids from the Equality and Human Rights Commission complies with the Paris Principles for independent national human rights bodies.

Helen Grant: We recognise the importance of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) maintaining its ‘A' status as a UN-accredited National Human Right Institution. The UN's Paris Principles require the EHRC to be adequately funded, and we have ensured that its budget to carry out its core functions is adequate and is not affected by any additional funding bids it makes, or by the Government's decisions on those bids.

Telecommunications: Sign Language

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether her Department operates a video relay telephony service to those for whom British Sign Language is their first language.

Helen Grant: DCMS does not have any such systems.

Telecommunications: Sign Language

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what guidance her Department has provided to other Departments on the provision of video relay telephony services to those for whom British Sign Language is their first language.

Helen Grant: No such guidance has been provided. However, officials have held meetings with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office to consider how the needs of hard of hearing customers, including British Sign Language users, can be best met. The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries also met with representatives of the UK Council on Deafness in November 2013 to discuss the findings of their report on Video Relay Services (VRS) to consider how provision of VRS can be further encouraged.

HEALTH

Abortion

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when required standard operating procedures for independent sector abortion providers were first released; when updates to those procedures were released; and when the provision that it is good practice that one of the two certifying doctors has seen the woman, though this is not a legal requirement first appeared in those procedures.

Jane Ellison: holding answer 13 February 2014
	The Required Standard Operating Procedures have been in existence, in different formats and with different titles, for many years.
	Two doctors must certify that in their opinion a request for an abortion meets at least one and the same grounds set out in the Act. They must be able to certify that they agree for the abortion to go ahead given the information they have about the woman's circumstances. If there is evidence that the certifying doctor has not formed an opinion in good faith, the doctor performing the termination is not protected by the Act and has potentially committed a criminal offence by terminating the pregnancy. We consider it good practice that one of the two certifying doctors has seen the woman, though this is not a legal requirement.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with his counterparts in each of the devolved regions steps to take to share best practice to reduce accident and emergency waiting times.

Jane Ellison: We support the sharing of best practice across the devolved regions to reduce accident and emergency (A&E) waiting times.
	NHS England makes a range of information publicly available in order to support improvements in A&E in the national health service in England. This information can be accessed readily throughout the United Kingdom.
	For example, NHS England have committed to conducting their review of urgent and emergency care in public, working closely with stakeholders and partners across the system (including the College of Emergency Medicine). The first phase of the review was published in November 2013, following an engagement exercise which took place between June and August 2013. The review is aimed at delivering system wide change - not just in A&E but across all health and care services in England by:
	concentrating specialist expertise, where appropriate; and
	ensuring that other services, such as primary and community care, are more responsive and delivered locally.
	NHS England has also committed to transparency about A&E performance data which allows for benchmarking. The Health and Social Care Information Centre publishes weekly performance on the operational standard that 95% of patients should not wait more than four hours in an A&E department from arrival to transfer, discharge or admission.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Dental Services

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 608W, on accident and emergency departments: departmental services, how many patients have presented at accident and emergency departments where the patient's first treatment was dental treatment in each region in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: The number of patients presented at accident and emergency (A&E) departments where the patient's first treatment was dental treatment in each of the last five years by region is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 The number of patients presented at A&E departments where patient's first treatment was dental treatment 
			 Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Strategic Health Authority of Treatment 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority * 7 20 36 40 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority 10 6 25 78 47 
			 London Strategic Health Authority 20 55 1,572 16,192 12,939 
			 North East Strategic Health Authority 37 24 92 125 110 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority 1,589 1,905 1,637 607 1,113 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority — 12 25 38 44 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority 9 22 23 14 11 
			 South West Strategic Health Authority 6 26 65 141 106 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority 24 43 36 129 94 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority * 6 10 28 23 
			 Notes: 1. Assessing growth through time (A&E) HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. In order to try and understand these trends, particularly for the London SHA region, the Health and Social Care Information Centre are looking at the data in more detail and will be particularly focussing on investigating at organisation level. While full completion is encouraged and we know over time more organisations are participating and recording has improved over time completion and coverage remain variable by organisation and local area. 2. King's Dental Institute was in London Strategic Health Authority and sees urgent dental patients There were no recorded A&E attendances where the primary treatment was dental for this organisation in 2008-09, 2009-10 or 2010-11. However in 2011-12 there were over 14,000 and over 12,000 in 2012-13, which explains the increase in the London SHA figures from 2011-12. 3. 3. A&E HES A&E HES receives data from A&E providers via the Secondary Uses Service (SUS) where there is one row of data for each A&E attendance with many different items of data collected. This record level collection has only been available since 2007-08. There are known issues with data completeness within A&E HES, with not all Emergency departments, particularly smaller minor injuries units and walk in centres, being able to submit data electronically to SUS. The first year's figures in the series only comprise 60% of the total A&E admissions, improving significantly over time by an estimated 20% in recent years, meaning it is impossible to identify reliable national trends over the whole period. 4. Official Source of A&E activity data HES is not the official source of total A&E activity. This is the NHS England situation reports collection www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ However, HES permits further analysis of A&E activity as there are a range of data items by which HES can be analysed. 5. Small Numbers To protect patient confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been replaced with "*" (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify figures from the total, additional figures have been replaced with "*". Source. Hospital Episode Statistics (Hes), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Anaemia

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will have steps to ensure that vitamin B injections are available to those with pernicious anaemia; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Vitamin B12 injection (also known as hydroxocobalamin) is available from several companies, but we understand that supplies from one company are currently limited as a result of manufacturing difficulties. Departmental officials are working with that supplier to help ensure that normal supplies resume as soon as possible.

Autism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to (a) establish an innovation fund to encourage the developments of new and innovative models or provision for people with autism, by a local authority that can be shared with other areas and (b) set up a community-based awareness raising scheme for autism.

Norman Lamb: As part of the ongoing review of the adult autism strategy, we are actively considering a variety of proposals from the National Autistic Society relating to awareness-raising, how local communities can become more autism-aware, and new models of provision for people with autism.

Autism

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure medical and social care professionals are better trained to respond effectively to the needs of autistic individuals;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure greater awareness of understanding of autism in (a) social service departments and (b) wider society;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of early intervention measures in autism cases; and what steps he is taking to increase use of such procedures;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of progress in implementing the measures in the Autism Act 2009;
	(5)  what steps he is taking to improve support for autistic children in their transition to adulthood;
	(6)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure better co-ordination between services that provide support to those suffering from autism;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the annual social care cost of autism spectrum disorders.

Norman Lamb: As required by the Autism Act 2009, the Department is currently leading a review of the Adult Autism Strategy published in 2010. The issues raised by these linked questions are all being actively considered as part of that review which provides an opportunity for a cross-Government assessment of the objectives of the strategy to determine if they remain the right ones, to assess what progress has been made in implementing the measures in the strategy and consider what should happen to continue to make progress in improving outcomes for people with autism. The review has included substantial and wide-ranging engagement with people with autism and their families and with those who commission and provide support services.
	The National Audit Office (NAO), in a memorandum to the Public Accounts Committee in July 2012, stated that considerable progress had been made across central Government, local authorities and the national health service since the launch of the strategy, but that there is still some way to go. The NAO’s findings have helped inform the current review of the strategy. As part of the review, local authorities and their partners took part in a self-evaluation exercise on progress made in implementing the strategy. We expect local responses to be discussed by health and wellbeing boards as evidence of local planning and health needs assessment strategy development. A full report of information from across the country will be published by Public Health England in due course.
	In order to help improve the care and management of autism and to enable health and social care services to support people with autism more effectively, the Department commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to produce guidance on autism. This includes a recent quality standard for autism which can help to inform the commissioning of autism services for children, young people and adults, focusing on the key areas for improving the quality of existing services.
	At national level, the key enablers have been put in place. These include publication of statutory guidance for health and local authority bodies, commissioning of guidance and support materials from expert bodies and publication of NICE guidance. The strategy and statutory guidance both promote joint strategic needs assessments as the vehicle for health and social care services to properly plan for the needs of people with autism in their area; action to be expressed through joint commissioning strategies and better local co-ordination of services.
	The Government is committed to achieving the vision, set out in the strategy, of local communities that not only accept and understand autism, but provide real opportunities for adults with autism to live fulfilling and rewarding lives.
	Improving training for medical and social care professionals is a key element in delivering improved outcomes for people with autism. The statutory guidance which supports the 2010 strategy states that local authorities and the NHS should seek ways to make autism awareness training available to all staff working in health and social care, and should provide specialist training for those in key roles that have a direct impact on access to services for adults with autism.
	Information is not kept centrally of the annual social care cost of autism spectrum disorders.
	As regards to the issue of transition from child to adult services, I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), on 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 68W.

Cancer

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Cancer Outcomes and Services dataset is complete; and whether the symptom first noted date section of that dataset is available for use by clinical researchers.

Jane Ellison: The Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset (COSD), approved by the Information Standards Board, has been mandated for collection across all providers of NHS cancer services since January 2013. The COSD does include the requirement for cancer services providers to supply a data relating to date of symptom first noted. This is mandatory for those providing services to children, teenagers and young adults (TYA), but is otherwise optional.
	The National Cancer Registration Service (NCRS) would have first received data against this item for January 2013 diagnosed cases in March 2013. It was not at this stage expected that there would be sufficient data to support research or analysis around this item for two main reasons. Firstly, there will be less than a full year of data captured and reported to the NCRS. Secondly, one-year on, the implementation phase of COSD is still progressing across the country to ensure that systems and processes are in place in over 160 NHS providers to ensure the capture and reporting of the full dataset.
	As part of COSD implementation, the NCRS will be working with all NHS providers and the National Cancer Intelligence Network’s TYA site specific clinical reference group to feedback comparative performance of completion of this data item to clinical and management teams. In this way, it is expected that the data will be sufficiently complete for analysis and research within the very near future.

Cancer

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to tackle the projected rise in cancer cases.

Jane Ellison: The Government’s Mandate to NHS England sets out an ambition to make England one of the most successful countries in Europe at preventing premature deaths from illnesses like cancer.
	In 2011, the Department published ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’, which sets out actions to tackle preventable cancer incidence and to deliver outcomes that are comparable with the best in Europe. Over £750 million has been committed to deliver the Strategy, which aims to save an additional 5,000 lives from cancer by 2014-15.
	Along with Public Health England, we are taking wide-ranging actions to tackle risk factors for the prevention of diseases, including cancer, and addressing:
	tobacco use;
	obesity;
	unhealthy diets;
	physical inactivity; and
	harmful consumption of alcohol.
	Key elements of the work programme involve action at the national level, including working with industry through the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alongside strengthening local action, promoting healthy choices, and giving appropriate information to support healthier lives through social marketing campaigns such as Change4Life.
	In partnership with the Department and NHS England (including NHS Improving Quality), Public Health England has also taken on the running of the Be Clear on Cancer campaigns to highlight the symptoms of a range of cancers and to encourage people with the relevant symptoms to visit their general practitioner.
	Finally, there a variety of screening programmes in place, which are an important way to detect cancer early.

Cerebral Palsy

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of selective dorsal rhizotomy; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no such assessment.
	The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a clinical guideline in July 2012 on spasticity in children and young people with non-progressive brain disorders which recommends that selective dorsal rhizotomy should be considered as an option for improving the ability to walk in some groups of children and young people with spasticity.
	Because the procedure is irreversible and can have serious complications, NICE recommends that it should only be carried out by specialist teams and that the possible complications and uncertainties over long-term outcomes should be discussed with patients and/or their carers.

Continuing Care

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he takes to ensure that healthcare professionals remain aware of the criteria for access to continuing care from the NHS.

Norman Lamb: Part 6 of the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Board (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 makes provision about NHS Continuing Healthcare, including duties on the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups in relation to the assessment of need for NHS Continuing Healthcare. The standing rules also mandate the use of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.
	NHS England, has developed an electronic training tool which is available now for all those involved in assessment and decision making around NHS Continuing Healthcare. The tool is free to use for all staff involved in this process.

Depressive Illnesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of treating repeated episodes of depression by (a) drugs, (b) individual counselling and (c) mindfulness-based therapy in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Norman Lamb: No such estimate has been made of. the average cost of treating repeated episodes of depression through drugs, individual counselling or mindfulness-based therapies.

Doctors: Armed Forces

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training and support his Department provides to military doctors who subsequently enter civilian service; and whether his Department monitors the performance of such doctors relative to the performance of other doctors.

Daniel Poulter: The Department provides training and support in the national health service to military doctors in those circumstances where the Ministry of Defence does not have the facilities to ensure the doctors' continuing professional development (CPD) needs are met. Upon entering the civilian service, they would receive training and support from their NHS employer, in the same way as any other doctor.
	As part of their conditions of registration with the General Medical Council, all doctors must now meet the requirements of medical revalidation, which has a formal annual appraisal at its heart. At these appraisals, doctors are required to show how they keep their skills and knowledge up to date, which will include undertaking relevant CPD.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: Costs pre 2010-11 are not held centrally. Costs for 2013-14 are not yet available. Costs for years 2010 to 2013 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Team Grade Full-time equivalent (FTE) Average weighted salary (£) Average weighted salary (FTE) (£) 
			 2010-11     
			 Equality and Inclusion Team Senior Civil Servant (SCS) 1 1 102,909 102,909 
			  Grade 6 1 86,379 86,379 
			  Grade 7 3 67,279 201,836 
			  Senior Executive Officer (SEO) 2 49,311 98,623 
			  Executive Officer (EO) 0.5 32,600 16,300 
			 Human Resources Diversity Grade 6 0.7 86,379 60,465. 
			  SEO 0.7 49,311 34,518 
			  Higher Executive Officer (HEO) 1 39,501 39,501 
			  EO 0.1 32,600 3,260 
			 NHS Equality and Social Care Team SCS2 1 144,475 144,475 
			  SCSI 1 102,909 102,909 
			  Grade 6 1 . 86,379 86,379 
			  Grade 7 3.5 67,279 235,475 
			  SEO 1 49,311 49,311 
			  HEO 1 39,501 39,501 
			  EO 2 32,600 65,201 
			  Administrative Officer (AO) 1 25,378 25,378 
			 Total    1,392,418 
			      
			 2011-12     
			 Equality and Inclusion Team SCSI 1 102,102 102,102 
			  Grade 6 1 85,572 85,572 
			  Grade 7 2 66,801 133,601 
			  SEO 2 49,028 98,055 
			  EO 0.5 32,768 16,384 
			 Human Resources Diversity Grade 6 0.7 85,572 59,900 
			  SEO 0.7 49,028 34,319 
			  HEO 0.6 39,432 23,659 
			  EO 0.5 32,768 16,384 
			 NHS Equality and Social Care Team SCS2 1 144,159 144,159 
			  SCSI 1 102,102 102,102 
			  Grade 6 2 85,572 171,144 
			  Grade 7 1.5 66,801 96,861 
			  HEO 1 39,432 39,432 
			  EO 2 32,768 65,536 
			 Total    1,189,210 
			      
			 2012-13     
			 Equality and Inclusion Team SCSI 1 101,476 101,476 
		
	
	
		
			  Grade 6 1 85,380 85,380 
			  Grade 7 2 66,595 133,190 
			  SEO 2 49,108 98,217 
			  EO 0.5 33,089 16,544 
			 Human Resources Diversity Grade 6 0.5 85,380 42,690 
			  SEO 0.5 49,108 24,554 
			  HEO 1 39,584 39,584 
			 NHS Equality and Social Care Team SCSI 0.5 33,089 16,544 
			  Grade 6 1 101,476 101,476 
			  Grade 7 3.5 85,380 294,561 
			  SEO 1 66,595 66,595 
			  HEO 1 49,108 49,108 
			  EO 1.5 39,584 59,376 
			 Total    1,129,295 
			 Note: Weighted average annual salary includes including superannuation and ERNIC.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use his Department plans to make of information on female genital mutilation reported by acute hospitals after September 2014.

Jane Ellison: Data collection is the first stage of a wider ranging programme of work in development to improve the way in which the national health service will respond to the health needs of girls and women who have suffered female genital mutilation (FGM) and actively support prevention.
	Further announcements on the collection and use of FGM information will be made in due course.

Floods: Health Hazards

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risk to human health from contaminated water and sewage entering people's homes as a result of flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The lead responsibility for assessment of the health impacts of the recent flooding in England lies with Public Health England (PHE) and their partners including local government and the national health service.
	Floodwater from rivers and land is a known risk for the common bacterial gastrointestinal infections. Nationally, PHE carries out active surveillance for outbreaks of infectious diseases, and related illnesses (gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory) and is using this information on a day-to-day basis to monitor the health of the population in the areas affected by flooding. These data include statutory reporting of notifiable infectious diseases by all clinicians to PHE; statutory reporting of all significant infectious organisms detected in laboratories to PHE; and the monitoring by PHE's Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Team.
	There are no high-risk enteric infectious diseases naturally endemic in the human population of the United Kingdom (e.g. cholera, typhoid); and the relative risks to people from bacterial contamination of floodwater is, therefore, low, especially if the public health advice being widely distributed is followed. Where there is any raw sewage entering floodwaters, the diluting and dispersing of potential sources of infection further significantly reduces any risk.
	Local Strategic Command Groups (Gold Command) are being supported, where appropriate, by a PHE-led national Science and Technical Advice Cell (STAC) which receives local information and intelligence on potential health and well-being problems from a variety of sources, including primary care clinicians. In addition, all PHE centres liaise routinely with local Directors of Public Health and NHS England area teams to receive and respond to population health concerns.
	Departmental officials and Ministers are in regular contact with PHE with regard to the public health aspects of flooding.

Floods: Health Hazards

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to safeguard the health of people whose homes have been flooded by contaminated water and sewage; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) advice is being issued through the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Strategic Co-ordinating Group in its public communication to local communities, using local media and where appropriate distribution of leaflets house by house and is also used by all LRF partners and is available online.
	PHE continues to ensure that clear guidance is being given regularly to the general public about minimising any health risk. This includes avoiding contact with floodwater, hand hygiene and sanitation and the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning associated with the use of petrol/diesel or fuel-driven generators indoors. PHE is continuing to make more detailed guidance available as the floodwater recedes and areas enter the recovery phase. All our experience from previous floods tells us that where people follow such health advice there are no significantly increased rates of illness.
	Any other public health issues identified by PHE's on-going surveillance will be addressed by the local recovery groups with appropriate input from PHE, the Local Authority Director of Public Health and environmental health, and local national health service colleagues, including plans to manage any long-term health problems that develop in people who have been affected by the flooding.

General Practitioners

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the withdrawal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee for GP surgeries does not detrimentally affect (a) all health services and (b) health services in rural areas;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of GP surgeries who will lose more than £2 per patient per year over seven years as a result of the withdrawal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee.

Daniel Poulter: NHS England undertook provisional analysis at the end of 2013 to identify “outlier” practices, those that will lose £3 or more per weighted patient per year from 2014-15, as a result of the phasing out of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG). This initial modelling identified 98 outliers and, of these, 15 were rural practices.
	Details of these practices were sent to NHS England area teams. In the small number of cases where there are exceptional underlying factors that necessitate additional funding, teams were asked to meet with the practices to discuss and agree arrangements to ensure that appropriate services for patients continue to be available.
	In addition, the provisional analysis suggested that a further 131 practices might lose between £2 and £3 per weighted patient per year from 2014-15 as a result of phasing out MPIG. Of these 21 were rural practices.
	Further analytical work will be undertaken shortly to confirm the final figures.

General Practitioners

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the (a) costs for and (b) other effects on GP practices of delays in NHS hospital trusts issuing a patient's discharge information promptly;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS hospital trusts improve the time taken to issue a patient's discharge information to their GP;
	(3)  what proportion of cases in which GP practices are not notified of a patient's discharge timeframe have not been discharged by the NHS hospital trust within the stated timeframe at (a) Southport and Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trusts (b) all NHS hospital trusts in the North West of England and (c) England;
	(4)  whether there is a specified timeframe in which NHS hospital trusts are required to issue a patient's discharge information to their GP;
	(5)  what guidance his Department has issued to NHS hospital trusts on the issuing of discharge notes to a patient's GP.

Jane Ellison: Agreements between general practices and national health service trusts regarding the transfer of patient information upon discharge, and records of the fulfilment of this agreement, are not centrally held.
	Through the changes announced as part of the general practitioner (GP) contract negotiations we aim to improve services for patients with complex needs including asking GPs to work with hospitals to review and improve the hospital discharge process.

General Practitioners: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the national GP training curriculum is dedicated to mental health.

Daniel Poulter: Information about the proportion of the national general practitioner training curriculum that is dedicated to mental health is not held centrally. Details of the curriculum content are available from the Royal College of General Practitioners at:
	www.rcgp.org.uk

Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals (a) the Minister of State for Public Health and (b) his predecessor made to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to develop guidance on public health.

Norman Lamb: All referrals of public health topics to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are made under the authority of the Secretary of State for Health. Since May 2010, Ministers have referred 17 new public health topics to the NICE for guidance development. Additionally, Ministers carried out a review of NICE'S public health work programme in 2010 that resulted in the revision of a number of topics that had been referred to NICE by the previous Administration.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on retaining access to free diagnosis and treatment for every resident in England for all the diseases included in Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011.

Jane Ellison: Diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases will remain free for people who are ordinarily resident in England.
	Current exemptions that exist with regard to infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections are integral to protecting the public's health. Therefore there are no planned changes to the exemptions listed in relation to treatment for the diseases stated in Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011.
	We are currently working with NHS (England) and Public Health (England) to consider which diagnosis and treatment services (excluding the above) will become chargeable to visitors and migrants, there are no planned changes to individuals who are ordinarily resident in England. The outcome of this work will be published in due course.

Heart Diseases

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS England review of adult congenital heart disease services has spent on external communication consultants from each employed company to date.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is responsible for conducting the new review of congenital heart disease services. It advises that the review employs a single contractor whose role is to liaise with stakeholders and to organise and facilitate workshops and events. As at 14 February 2014, a total of £10,878 has been paid to this contractor.

Heart Diseases: Children

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many congenital heart disease procedures have been carried out at each of the children's heart surgery units in the UK in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Total procedures 
			 Number 
			 United Kingdom children's heart surgery units 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 
			 Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool 621 599 605 
			 Birmingham Children's Hospital 958 851 841 
			 Bristol Children's Hospital 521 502 526 
			 Evelina Children's Hospital, London 620 595 557 
			 Freeman Hospital, Newcastle 341 351 355 
			 Glenfield Hospital, Leicester 343 323 319 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital 967 964 919 
			 Harley Street Clinic (Private) 227 204 211 
			 John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford 16 9 52 
			 Leeds General Infirmary 518 460 512 
			 Royal Brompton Hospital 604 678 644 
			 Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Glasgow) 469 450 493 
			 Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast) 105 125 113 
			 Southampton General Hospital 464 543 478 
			     
			 Total 6,774 6,654 6,625 
			 Notes: 1. Data for each UK child heart unit, for the last three financial years for which data is available. 2. Procedures include surgery and catheterisation for neonates, infants and children. Includes NHS, private and overseas patients. Source: National Institute of Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) Congenital Database.

Heart Diseases: Children

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects that the second stage of the review of the suspension of services at the Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit will be published;
	(2)  what the reason is for the time taken to publish the second stage of the review of the suspension of services at Leeds Children's Heart Surgery Unit.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is responsible for the publication of the reports relating to the review of the Children's Cardiac Surgery Unit at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, working together with partner agencies who are co-commissioners of the investigations and reports.
	We are advised by NHS England that the reviews have taken longer than originally expected and the reports will be published as soon as possible. There are several elements to the second stage review of children's heart surgery in Leeds. A formal procurement process was undertaken to ensure independent oversight of the investigation process, and this has had an impact on the timescales of the exercise.
	NHS England has been awaiting conclusion of key aspects of the investigations so all relevant findings relating to patient care and patient experience can be fully considered. We are assured by NHS England that its aim is to avoid any further unnecessary delay.

Hospital Beds: North West

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharges there were from (a) St Helens and Knowsley NHS Hospitals Trust and (b) Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Hospital Trust in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of delayed transfers of care days for each month from January to December 2013 at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (FT) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS FT 
			 January 107 148 
			 February 89 156 
			 March 45 140 
			 April 44 176 
			 May 276 220 
			 June 206 396 
			 July 258 273 
			 August 206 233 
			 September 173 277 
			 October 235 341 
			 November 208 366 
			 December 183 290 
			 Source: NHS England Delayed Transfers of Care, 2012-13 and 2013-14: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/delayed-transfers-of-care/

Hospitals: Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the proposals of the Better Care Together Review, what progress his Department has made in implementing proposals for a super hospital to serve the whole of Morecambe Bay.

Daniel Poulter: I hope my hon. Friend will appreciate that decisions about the configuration of local health services are a matter for the national health service locally.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the number of elective operations cancelled in (a) Merseyside and (b) Halton and Warrington in the three months ended 30 September 2013 was.

Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of last minute cancelled elective operations for non-clinical reasons at Halton and Warrington Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (FT) in Quarter 2 of 2013-14 (July to September 2013) was 110.
	The number of last minute cancelled elective operations for non-clinical reasons at all trusts in Merseyside in Quarter 2 of 2013-14 (July to September 2013), is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Quarter 2, 2013-14 
			 Merseyside area Number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons 
			 Aintree University Hospital NHS FT 75 
			 Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS FT 73 
			 The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust 55 
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 52 
			 Alder Hey Children's NHS FT 54 
			 Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS FT 19 
			 Liverpool Women's NHS FT 22 
			 The Walton Centre NHS FT 28 
			 Notes: 1. NHS England collects the number of operations cancelled at the ‘last minute’ for non-clinical reasons on a quarterly basis. It does not collect the total number of cancelled operations or a breakdown of the type of operations that have been cancelled. 2. Operations cancelled for clinical reasons are not collected as the patient is not available for the operation. 3. A last minute cancellation is defined as when a patient's operation is cancelled by the hospital on or after the day of admission (including the day of surgery) for non-clinical reasons. 4. NHS England also collects the number of breaches of the cancelled operations standard. A breach occurs if a patient has not been treated 28 days after a last minute cancellation. 5. Data are available at NHS trust level but not at hospital site level. A trust may comprise of one or more hospital sites. Source: NHS England Quarterly Monitoring Cancelled Operations: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancelled-elective-operations/cancelled-ops-data/

Joint Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss post-operation joint replacements for elderly people with the BMA and other medical bodies.

Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) regularly meets with the British Medical Association and other medical bodies to discuss a range of health issues.
	The Department's Mandate to NHS England sets an objective for NHS England to make measurable improvement in helping people to recover from episodes of ill-health, including from orthopaedic treatments.
	The NHS Outcomes Framework and Clinical Commissioning Group Outcome Indicator Set contain specific improvement indicators for both hip and knee replacements.

Joint Replacements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of elderly people who have had post-operation problems with joint replacements in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: General figures for post-operative problems following joint replacements are not available. In the following tables, we have provided Patient Reported Outcomes Measure (PROM) data collected for specified problems reported by patients following surgery for total hip or knee replacements (including revisions) for the financial years 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2009-10.
	
		
			 Hip replacement 2011-12 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 9,831 5,442 1,584 584 313 544 562 370 155 
			 60-69 21,928 13,581 4,077 1,536 667 1,583 1,228 855 313 
			 70-79 24;875 14,828 4,450 1,566 702 1,961 1,269 1,150 375 
			 80-89 10,211 5,529 1,592 499 229 799 416 570 153 
			 90+ 600 272 86 29 14 52 20 28 8 
			 Total (50+) 67,445 39,652 11,789 4,214 1,925 4,939 3,495 2,973 1,004 
		
	
	
		
			 Hip replacement 2010-11 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 9,592 5,210 1,601 630 337 551 540 363 1— 
			 60-69 20,725 12,270 3,588 1,343 667 1,316 1,180 880 344 
			 70-79 24,295 13,775 4,095 1,432 688 1,712 1,237 1,068 349 
			 80-89 9886 5,015 1,443 464 247 695 405 492 161 
			 90+ 595 247 63 24 7 35 16 19 1— 
			 Total (50+) 65,093 36,517 1,0790 3,893 1,946 4,309 3,378 2,822 998 
		
	
	
		
			 Hip replacement 2009-10 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 7,910 3,696 1,130 419 227 389 382 260 110 
			 60-69 19,349 9,903 3,079 1,145 559 1,166 1,000 714 276 
			 70-79 23,778 11,753 3,509 1,215 634 1,525 1,079 970 339 
			 80-89 9,593 4,076 1,256 398 199 584 333 424 130 
			 90+ 526 190 53 14 9 34 11 23 9 
			 Total (50+) 61,156 29,618 9,027 3,191 1,628 3,698 2,805 2,391 864 
		
	
	
		
			 Knee replacement 2011-12 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 9,411 4,969 1,696 607 451 432 735 565 260 
			 60-69 26,423 15,552 5,202 2,006 1,233 1,498 1,990 1,451 580 
			 70-79 28,548 16,581 5,688 2,082 1,171 1,994 2,015 1,517 477 
			 80-89 10,712 5,700 1,905 668 366 770 606 541 1— 
			 90+ 376 181 60 18 13 26 19 11 1— 
			 Total (50+) 75,470 42,983 14,551 5,381 3,234 4,720 5,365 4,085 1,447 
		
	
	
		
			 Knee replacement 2010-11 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 9,215 4,577 1,510 545 339 385 638 493 244 
			 60-69 25,117 13,765 4,503 1,668 1,037 1,360 1,645 1,226 495 
			 70-79 28,219 15,253 4,979 1,835 962 1,661 1,832 1,474 476 
			 80-89 10,417 5,341 1,827 650 302 749 569 582 1— 
			 90+ 394 164 56 20 7 22 21 13 1— 
			 Total (50+) 73,362 39,100 12,875 4,718 2,647 4,177 4,705 3,788 1,343 
		
	
	
		
			 Knee replacement 2009-10 
			 Age group Number of procedures Number of available records One or more problems Of those with one or more problems Readmitted Further surgery 
			     Allergy Bleeding Urinary Wound   
			 50-59 8,869 4,031 1,342 497 314 353 558 450 253 
			 60-69 24,479 11,902 3,929 1,497 850 1,177 1,456 1,111 572 
		
	
	
		
			 70-79 27,786 13,300 4,465 1,682 830 1,552 1,549 1,300 539 
			 80-89 10,474 4,737 1,614 581 250 662 498 517 151 
			 90+ 307 113 37 10 6 19 10 10 0 
			 Total (50+) 71,915 34,083 11,387 4,267 2,250 3,763 4,071 3,388 1,515 
			 1 Denotes that this value has been suppressed to protect patient confidentiality. Values between 1 and 5 are suppressed and additional values where it would be otherwise possible to derive suppressed values from the total. Notes: 1. Counts are of questionnaire/hospital records, not patients; any particular patient could have had more than one eligible hip or knee replacement during the financial year. 2. All data are for activity in NHS Hospitals in England and activity commissioned by the English NHS carried out in the independent sector in England. 3. Analysis is based on pre-operative questionnaires completed by patients under the Patient PROMs programme for each period in which a post-operative questionnaire has been returned and which has been successfully matched to a record of hospital in-patient care. 4. All patients undergoing elective in-patient treatment for an eligible procedure are invited to complete PROMs questionnaires, but are not required to do so. 5. Not all patients who returned PROMs questionnaires answered questions on complications following surgery (allergy/reaction, urinary problems, bleeding, and wound problems). 6. Post-operative questionnaires are sent to and returned by patients following their surgery. Not all patients undergoing the relevant operations return questionnaires; the reasons for this will vary, but patients are not obliged to complete or return their questionnaires and some will simply have chosen not to do so. 7. The column “Number of procedures” refers to the number of hospital episodes recorded for this type of surgery, age group, and financial year. It is contextual only as some records may relate to procedures conducted in other years. 8. The column “Number of available records” refers to the number of post-operative questionnaires where we were able to link to hospital in-patient data for analysis. Source: Patient Reported Outcome Measures in England/Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Liver Diseases: Obesity

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of liver disease he estimates were cases of obesity induced liver disease in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: General annual estimates on the number of obesity-induced liver disease cases are not available.
	However, in 2011, NHS Liver, now part of NHS Improving Quality, published the ‘Liver disease patient landscape and care provision’ report. This report concluded that 1.1 million people in England have fatty liver disease, a condition usually seen in people who are overweight or obese.

Macular Degeneration

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK have had age-related macular degeneration in each of the last three years.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not collect data on the number of people with age-related macular degeneration.
	The Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided the following table. This shows the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs), for England; where the primary diagnosis was ‘degeneration of the macular and posterior pole'.
	
		
			  FAE 
			 2012-13 77,559 
			 2011-12 69,826 
			 2010-11 66,195 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2. There is no specific code with the Hospital Episodes Statistics to be able to separately identify patients diagnosed with ‘Age related macular degeneration’. Information is, therefore, provided for ‘degeneration of macula and posterior pole’. This includes, but is not limited to, age-related macular degeneration. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Macular Degeneration

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about use of the Eylea form of aflibercept.

Norman Lamb: Ministers have had no such discussions.
	The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Eylea (aflibercept) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration in certain patients in technology appraisal guidance issued in July 2013. National health service commissioners are legally required by regulations to fund treatments recommended by NICE in its technology appraisal, guidance.
	NICE is currently appraising the use of Eylea for the treatment of visual impairment caused by macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. We understand that NICE expects to issue its final guidance in April 2014.

Medical Records: Databases

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans that his NHS patient data sharing initiative will be applied to privately-provided primary care.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 empowers the Health and Social Care Information Centre to require organisations providing care funded by the national health service to submit data to it when directed by the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), or by NHS England. This extends to private health care providers when they are providing NHS care.

Medical Records: Databases

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on GPs who decide to operate an opt-in rather than opt-out procedure for their patients in relation to his NHS patient data-sharing initiative.

Daniel Poulter: NHS England has directed the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to extract data from general practitioner (GP) practices for the care.data programme. However, identifiable data will not be extracted from GP records of patients who have objected to the sharing of this information.
	On 18 February 2014, NHS England announced that they will collect data from GP surgeries in the autumn, instead of April, to allow more time to build public awareness of the benefits of using the information, what safeguards are in place, how people can opt out if they choose, and look into further measures that could be taken to build public confidence.

Medical Records: Databases

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, column 616W, on medical records: databases, Question 186539, 
	(1)  when he expects NHS England to complete the survey; and if he will publish the detailed results of the survey;
	(2)  what plans he has for remedial action to ensure that those who have not received a leaflet are informed fully of the scheme to which the leaflet, Better information means better care, relates.

Daniel Poulter: NHS England is surveying a sample of households to evaluate the effectiveness of the leaflet, which includes asking whether they recall receiving the leaflet and how much of it they read. This will ensure that lessons are learnt to incorporate in future national mailings. The household leaflet, however, is only part of a comprehensive range of awareness raising activities, which also includes: leaflets and posters in every general practice in England; articles in newspapers; information on the NHS Choices website; and via social media; as well as information cascaded via 350,000 patient groups and charities.
	NHS England will complete the fieldwork for the research by the end of February 2014 and publish the results of the survey.

Meningitis

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has the Department made of a link between levels of deprivation and incidence of meningitis.

Jane Ellison: A link between deprivation and incidence of meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis at geographical area levels has been demonstrated in studies in the United Kingdom1,2. The mechanism through which this occurs at an individual level is complex and not completely understood. Environmental factors such as smoking and overcrowding, which disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups, have been suggested as contributing to the link. Several studies have shown that smoking (active and passive) and overcrowding are independent risk factors for meningococcal disease
	3
	.
	1 Christopher J Williams, Lorna J Willocks, Iain R Lake and Paul R Hunter. Geographic correlation between deprivation and risk of meningococcal disease: an ecological study. BMC Public Health 2004, 4:30.
	2 Ian Rees Jones, Gillian Urwin, Roger A Feldman, Nicholas Banatvala. Social deprivation and bacterial meningitis in North East Thames region: three year study using small area statistics. BMJ 1997;314:794-5.
	3 Stanwell-Smith RE, Stuart JM, Hughes AO, Robinson P, Griffin MB, Cart-wright K. Smoking, the environment and meningococcal disease: a case control study. Epidemiol Infect 1994;112:315-28.

Mental Health Services

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to help those suffering from mental health problems.

Norman Lamb: Mental health and well-being is a priority for this Government. Our overarching aim is to ensure that mental health has equal standing with physical health, and that everyone who needs it has timely access to the best available mental health treatment. We have made this a priority for NHS England—one of NHS England's 24 objectives is to put mental health on a par with physical health and close the health gap between people with mental health problems and the population as a whole.
	The Mandate to NHS England makes clear that:
	“By March 2015, we expect measurable progress towards achieving true parity of esteem, where everyone who needs it has timely access to evidence-based services”.
	This will include extending and ensuring more open access to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, in particular for children and young people, and for those out of work. We are investing over £400 million between 2011 and 2015 in the IAPT programme. In addition, we are investing £54 million in the Children and Young People's IAPT programme to give children and young people improved access to the best mental health care.
	We will hold the national health service to account for outcomes for mental health patients through the NHS Outcomes Framework. There are four measures which relate specifically to mental health. Improvements for people with mental health problems will also be a crucial element of success across the framework as a whole.
	We are setting up a new, national Mental Health Intelligence Network to provide comprehensive, up to date information about mental health and wellbeing, mental health problems and what the most pressing needs are in each area. It will also gather information about the services being provided and how effective they are.
	Public Health England's priorities for 2013-14 include a commitment to:
	“develop a national programme on mental health in public health that supports No Health Without Mental Health, prioritising the promotion of mental wellbeing, prevention of mental health problems and the prevention of suicide, along with improving the wellbeing of those living with and recovering from mental illness”.
	We are challenging the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems and their families. The Department is funding the Time to Change campaign (£16 million over 2011-15) which works to support and empower people to talk about their mental health problems and to tackle the discrimination they face.
	We are supporting local organisations in taking effective action to improve mental health. Our mental health strategy and implementation framework, and our suicide prevention strategy, focus on specific actions which local organisations can take to improve mental health for all ages in their areas. And now, Closing the Gap (launched this January) sets our priorities for action and progress over the next couple of years.

Mental Health Services

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with mental health conditions being moved from local authority care to hospital care in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the number of patients with mental health issues being transported to hospital in police vehicles; and what steps he is taking to reduce this number.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not collect the information requested.
	The Mental Health Act Code of Practice states that police vehicles should not be used to transport mentally ill people unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as in cases of extreme urgency, or where there is a risk of violence. The Department recognises that the police believe that they sometimes have to transport patients when circumstances have not been exceptional.
	To address this issue, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives will introduce a new protocol for patients who have been detained by the Police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. This protocol will be used by all ambulance trusts in England from April. The protocol sets out a nationally consistent approach to attend the patient within 30 minutes (or within eight minutes if their condition is life-threatening) to provide an initial clinical assessment and to arrange transportation where required.
	Earlier this month we launched the Crisis Care Concordat, a shared statement of principles agreed by those organisations responsible for the professionals that respond to people experiencing episodes of mental health crisis. The concordat sets out how police, mental health, social work and ambulance professionals should work together to help people in mental health crisis. We expect every local area to commit to implementing these principles.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: South West

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on the replacement of two neuromuscular care advisor posts in Devon and Cornwall; and what body is contractually responsible for funding these posts according to the neurosciences service specification.

Norman Lamb: We are advised by NHS England that the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is in the process of recruiting replacements for the two neuromuscular care adviser posts.
	The posts form part of the operational delivery network (ODN) for neuromuscular conditions. The ODN is hosted by North Bristol NHS Trust.
	NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised services, including neuromuscular services in line with the Neurosciences: Specialised Neurology (Adult) service specification.

NHS: Staff

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of introducing safe staffing levels for (a) accident and emergency units, (b) doctors, (c) midwives and (d) social workers comparable to current nursing standards.

Daniel Poulter: This Government is committed to ensuring that staffing levels are sufficient to provide safe, high quality care.
	Patient safety experts agree that safe staffing levels should be set locally. It is not for Whitehall to set one-size fits all staffing rules; instead we will make sure that providers have the right levels of staff, set locally, to ensure patients are cared for.
	To support health care providers, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked by the Department and NHS England to develop evidence-based guidelines on safe and cost-effective staffing, including doctors, nurses and midwives. NICE is currently reviewing acute adult in-patient wards, and guidance and accredited tools will be available from July 2014.
	From August onwards, NICE will develop future guidelines making recommendations on safe staffing levels in other ward types and care settings including accident and emergency and maternity.
	In the response to the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry, “Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First”, we set out the expectation that from April 2014 and by June 2014 at the latest, national health service trusts will publish ward level information on whether they are meeting their staffing requirements, and every six months, trust boards will be required to undertake a detailed review of staffing using evidence-based tools.
	The Care Quality Commission through its chief inspector of hospitals will monitor this performance and take action where non-compliance puts patient at risk of harm and appropriate staffing levels will be a core element of the Care Quality Commission’s registration regime.

Obesity: Children

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change to average rates of obesity among children was between 2003 and 2013.

Jane Ellison: The following figures are from the Health Survey for England (HSE) and cover 2 to 15-year-olds in England only. The most recent data that are published are for 2012. Data for 2013 will not be available until December 2014.
	In 2003 obesity prevalence for this age group was 16.9%, and in 2012 it was 13.7%. However, due to the relatively small sample size of the HSE, figures from individual years can show substantial year on year variation. Taking into account all 10 years of HSE data from 2003 to 2012 suggests obesity prevalence for this age group has decreased from around 18% in 2003 to around 15% in 2012.

Obesity: Sugar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2014, Official  Report, columns 624-5W, on obesity: sugar, when he expects the Scientific Advisory Committee's review of Carbohydrates and Health to conclude.

Jane Ellison: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is due to publish a draft version of the Carbohydrates and Health report, which will go out to public consultation, in mid-2014. Following this, the committee will consider the responses and finalise their report. Once SACN have provided recommendations, Public Health England will consider whether its advice on carbohydrates (including sugar) requires updating.

Out-patients

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outpatient follow-up ratio average across all specialties was in each (a) NHS acute trust in Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) government region in England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13 and (v) 2013-14 to date.

Jane Ellison: The information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: First and follow-up outpatient appointments1 by national health service acute trust in Yorkshire and the Humber, 2009-10 to 2013-14 to date 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			  First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio 
			 Airedale NHS Foundation Trust 37,635 93,453 2.5 40,822 98,431 2.4 43,650 101,517 2.3 
			 Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 64,827 203,903 3,1 65,248 199,296 3.1 66,057 208,017 3.1 
			 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 106,037 255,358 2.4 117,807 312,980 2.7 120,975 329,371 2.7 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 135,364 258,405 1.9 135,197 251,575 1.9 134,454 257,252 1.9 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 144,203 338,297 2.3 148,076 358,099 2.4 149,991 354,298 2.4 
			 Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust 70,037 150,780 2.2 73,428 154,267 2.1 76,575 159,462 2.1 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 155,484 502,949 3.2 158,202 511,450 3.2 165,650 494,116 3.0 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 257,688 624,478 2.4 259,775 637,880 2.5 306,762 709,749 2.3 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 133,362 355,669 2.7 138,468 328,648 2.4 133,282 331,642 2.5 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 119,041 258,521 2.2 114,960 264,004 2.3 117,246 265,361 2.3 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust3 44,055 107,725 2.4 43,818 110,944 2.5 45,074 113,829 2.5 
			 Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust 26,739 69,591 2.6 28,864 71,736 2.5 31,233 73,178 2.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 283,086 704,726 2.5 290,553 788,112 2.7 307,174 751,012 2.4 
			 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 88,360 253,762 2.9 91,537 266,592 2.9 91,158 277,773 3.0 
			 York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust3 89,411 219,233 2.5 127,040 329,848 2.6 126,196 327,526 2.6 
		
	
	
		
			  2012-13 April 2013 to October 2013 (provisional)2 
			  First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio 
			 Airedale NHS Foundation Trust 48,378 102,171 2.1 26,296 64,768 2.5 
			 Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 62,502 206,687 3.3 37,783 121,802 3.2 
			 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 120,353 328,951 2.7 74,513 200,956 2.7 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 136,000 256,765 1.9 85,884 157,315 1.8 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 148;969 338,805 2.3 92,687 212,926 2.3 
			 Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust 78,373 162,053 2.1 50,561 100,850 2.0 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 172,195 439,287 2.6 104,595 258,054 2.5 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 341,251 717,168 2.1 207,780 436,049 2.1 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 139,946 316,223 2.3 89,440 185,082 2.1 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 118,490 263,410 2.2 74,461 158,298 2.1 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust3 — — — — — — 
			 Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust 31,099 75,487 2.4 20,095 46,652 2.3 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 289,290 777,016 2.7 170,679 471,961 2.8 
			 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 95,295 265,240 2.8 58,691 141,388 2.4 
			 York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust3 177,779 432,181 2.4 — — — 
			 1 Appointments shown are attended appointments. 2 Provisional data may be incomplete or contain errors for which adjustments have yet to be made. 3 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust was acquired by York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in July 2012. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: First and follow-up out-patient appointments by Government region in England, 2009-10 to 2013-14 to date 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			  First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio 
			 England 20,851,604 46,461,710 2.2 21,325,385 48,935,736 2.3 21,846,959 50,770,774 2.3 
			 North East 1,094,570 2,680,451 2.4 1,163,102 2,803,321 2.4 1,250,042 2,898,278 2.3 
			 North West 2,901,964 7,260,798 2.5 2,987,583 7,460,691 2.5 3,021,922 7,732,682 2.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,829,525 4,657,812 2.5 1,925,172 5,020,762 2.6 2,012,254 5,074,515 2.5 
			 East Midlands 1,351,022 3,141,016 2.3 1,372,663 3,130,674 2.3 1,377,087 3,104,463 2.3 
			 West Midlands 2,698,483 5,647,239 2.1 2,560,109 5,796,317 2.3 2,607,771 6,122,816 2.3 
			 East of England 2,040,956 4,171,354 2.0 2,101,430 4,359,052 2.1 2,201,359 4,750,610 2.2 
			 London 3,621,850 8,777,122 2.4 3,886,679 9,672,230 2.5 3,923,676 9,983,977 2.5 
			 South East 3,092,899 5,775,219 1.9 3,054,186 6,147,705 2.0 3,159,285 6,353,746 2.0 
			 South West 2,220,308 4,350,692 2.0 2,274,406 4,544,960 2.0 2,293,560 4,749,685 2.1 
		
	
	
		
			  2012-13 April 2013 to October 2013 (provisional) 
			  First Follow-up Ratio First Follow-up Ratio 
			 England 22,710,773 52,744,326 2.3 14,092,021 32,482,956 2.3 
			 North East 1,321,829 3,114,005 2.4 807,821 1,955,579 2.4 
			 North West 3,166,149 8,056,524 2.5 1,997,946 5,038,709 2.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,084,572 5,010,418 2.4 1,163,691 2,752,732 2.4 
			 East Midlands 1,445,589 3,203,975 2.2 944,659 1,955,408 2.1 
			 West Midlands 2,690,439 6,284,747 2.3 1,660,627 3,980,724 2.4 
			 East of England 2,329,746 5,413,930 2.3 1,452,269 3,314,360 2.3 
			 London 3,986,007 10,328,558 2.6 2,408,005 6,408,454 2.7 
			 South East 3,294,919 6,378,916 1.9 2,121,486 4,047,825 1.9 
			 South West 2,391,523 4,953,253 2.1 1,535,262 3,028,701 2.0 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Prescription Drugs

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospital admissions were due to medicine non-adherence in each year since May 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the annual cost of medicine non-adherence to the UK economy in terms of (a) lost days at work and (b) reduced productivity for those with long-term conditions.

Norman Lamb: Information on the number of hospital admissions, which were due to medicines non-adherence, is not collected centrally. The Department has made no estimate of the annual cost of medicine non-adherence to the United Kingdom economy.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of administering prescription charges and exemptions is.

Norman Lamb: The following table provides an estimate of direct and overhead costs for the administration of prescription pre-payment, maternity exemption and medical exemption certificates for the last complete financial year in England. These costs are the only elements of the prescription charging system that can be separately identified.
	
		
			 National health service prescription charge administrative process 
			 2012-13 £000 
			 Prescription Pre-payment certificates, Maternity and Medical Exemption certificates 4,988 
		
	
	Costs for processing prescription charges cannot be provided, because they are processed as part of the reimbursement arrangements for dispensers in England and are not separately identifiable. Costs cannot be provided for the pursuit of prescription charge fraud as it is not possible to separately identify this from the cost of tackling other types of NHS fraud.
	There are additional costs associated with the issuing of NHS tax credit certificates and assessment of eligibility for the NHS Low Income Scheme. These are not included in the table because the English costs cannot be isolated from costs for the devolved Administrations. In addition these certificates do not solely relate to prescription charges as NHS tax credit and NHS low income scheme certificates also provide help with the cost of NHS dental treatment, sight tests, vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses, NHS wigs and fabric supports, the cost of travel to receive NHS treatment on referral, as well as help with NHS prescription charges.

Radiotherapy

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS patients have received proton beam therapy at (a) the facility in Villigen, Switzerland and (b) each of the two US facilities in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the average cost of providing proton beam therapy to an NHS patient is at (a) the facility in Villigen, Switzerland and (b) the two facilities in the US;
	(3)  what procedures are in place to ensure that NHS patients who require proton beam therapy are able to access it within a clinically appropriate timeframe;
	(4)  how many NHS patients have required proton beam therapy in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: With regard to the number of national health service patients requiring proton beam therapy in each of the last five years, the following table provides figures for those patients who have been approved for referral and treatment:
	
		
			   Approved for Referral and Treatment  
			  Referrals to NHS Overseas Programme Adult Paediatric Total Approved 
			 2009 49 21 9 30 
			 2010 82 22 34 56 
			 2011 98 19 61 80 
			 2012 145 20 86 106 
			 2013 143 23 99 122 
		
	
	A small number of patients who have been approved for referral and treatment decide not to go ahead with proton beam therapy and opt instead for conventional radiotherapy. This is either for medical reasons or through patient choice.
	Patients who were not approved for referral and treatment were not suitable for proton beam therapy treatment and did not match the approved referral guidelines. These are patients for whom there is no advantage from proton beam therapy and for whom the National Clinical Reference Panel did not assess there would be any clinical benefit.
	The number of NHS patients who have received proton beam therapy at each of the two US facilities in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Jacksonville Oklahoma 
			 2010 37 0 
			 2011 52 14 
			 2012 61 33 
			 2013 70 25 
		
	
	A total of 25 patients have received treatment in Villigen over the five-year period. These figures cannot be provided by individual year as the small numbers might make it possible to identify individual patients. No patients were treated in Oklahoma in 2009. The number of patients treated in Jacksonville in 2009 cannot be provided, again, because the small number might make it possible to identify individual patients.
	The average cost of providing proton beam therapy is approximately £80,000, although this varies depending on whether the patient is a child or an adult and on the patient's diagnosis. Costs for individual facilities cannot be provided as this information is commercially sensitive.
	The Proton Beam Therapy Overseas Programme set itself a target to review cases through the National Clinical Reference Panel process and respond to a completed application within 10 working days. Since the programme started in 2008, the average response times have been 13 calendar days for adult cases and eight calendar days for paediatric cases. For the last two years (2012 and 2013), the figures have been 10 calendar days for adult cases and seven calendar days for paediatric cases. The improvement has been down to the introduction of new panel members, a new secure electronic portal for panel image viewing (and latterly image transfer systems from referring Trust and as well as abroad) and better familiarity with both the programme guidelines and processes within the clinical community.
	The final clinical decision and appropriate timing is left to the referring team, who can best judge the complex factors that need to be taken into account. In many cases, approval is given ahead of other treatments in the pathway being completed, such as chemotherapy or more surgery, so that there are no delays. The referring team liaises directly with the treatment centres. Arrangements can be made, often within days, for the relevant travel and appointments so that treatment can be commenced within a clinically appropriate time scale.

Shingles

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about use of EMA40 to treat shingles.

Norman Lamb: There have been no discussions about the use of EMA40 to treat shingles. The hon. Member may be referring to EMA401, a drug which is under development to treat neuropathic pain, including shingles pain. A recent article in The Lancet (published 5 February 2014). Describes the use of this medicine in an early phase clinical trial for treatment of nerve pain in patients with shingles, with encouraging results. All recruitment to this trial was outside the United Kingdom; however, EMA401 is being used in an on-going UK trial for a different type of nerve pain.

Shingles

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cases of shingles in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: Shingles is not a notifiable disease, so there is no centrally collected data available on the number of clinically reported cases. In addition, laboratory confirmation of cases of shingles is rarely sought as the diagnosis can, in general, be reliably made on clinical grounds. Therefore it is not possible to provide the number of cases of shingles in England reported in the past three years.
	A peer-reviewed study published in 2009 by authors from the Health Protection Agency Modelling and Economics Unit (now part of Public Health England) and the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, used a number of data sources to model cost-effectiveness of vaccination. In that paper, based on 2007 population, they estimated that in England and Wales there would be 88,625 cases of shingles per year in the immunocompetent population aged over 60.1 The 95% credibility interval for this estimate was between 65,000 and 113,000 cases per year in the immunocompetent population aged over 60. No data for those under age 60 is presented in the paper.
	The cited paper was used by JCVI in its consideration of the introduction of the shingles vaccination programme. (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation Statement on varicella and herpes zoster vaccines, 29 March 2010).
	1 van Hoek AJ, Gay N, Melegaro A et al. (2009) Estimating the cost-effectiveness of vaccination against herpes zoster in England and Wales. Vaccine 27( 9): 1454-67.

Social Workers: Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the current level of mental health training given to social workers.

Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), is aware that all social work students have input on their courses to cover mental health issues at all life stages and that once social workers are in practice they are expected to have a well-grounded understanding of mental health needs and ways in which to support people to achieve best outcomes by accessing specialist support as appropriate.
	Social workers in mental health services undertake more specific training as required by their agency context, including Approved Mental Health Professional accredited training to undertake this role under the Mental Health Act (1983) and best interests assessor training in accordance with requirements under the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
	The Government has commissioned two reports into the quality of social work education. One by Sir Martin Narey (for children and families) and one from Professor David Croisdale-Appleby (for adults).
	Sir Martin Narey’s report has been published and Professor Croisdale-Appleby's is imminent. Both reviews and both Departments (the Department for Education and the Department of Health) agree that there is a continued need to further improve the quality of social work education in order to achieve better outcomes for service users and carers.
	We are keen to ensure that their education and training is excellent and that there is a robust Continued Professional Development framework for practicing social workers.

Specialised Healthcare Alliance

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment NHS England made of a potential conflict of interest prior to commissioning Specialised Healthcare Alliance to produce a report as part of its strategy for commissioning specialised services in the future.

Jane Ellison: NHS England works with and involves the Specialised Healthcare Alliance (SHCA) and Rare Disease UK as umbrella organisations representing the interests and views of specialist and are condition charities. These organisations provide an important route to involving the voices of people who are most impacted by the commissioning of specialist services.
	As part of NHS England's process of engagement to support the development of its strategy for specialised commissioning, the SHCA and Rare Disease UK were asked to provide administrative support for one of the 17 engagement events.
	NHS England has in place principles and procedures for managing and registering potential conflicts of interests, which are set out in the Standards of Business Conduct guidance, and is available on the NHS England's website at:
	www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/stand-bus-cond.pdf
	NHS England requires members of all its committees to declare their interests, and any potential conflicts of interests are managed in accordance with the Standards of Business Conduct guidance.

Streptococcus

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons Enriched Culture Medium testing for group B Strep (GBS) was not introduced on 1 January 2014; and who took such a decision.

Daniel Poulter: The chief medical officer requested the former Health Protection Agency (HPA) to make recommendations for the introduction of a more accurate test for group B streptococcus (GBS) called enriched culture medium (ECM), and make it available in its regional laboratories when there was a clinical indication for testing.
	In response to this, Public Health England (PHE, formerly the HPA) undertook a piece of work with clinical organisations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to determine whether there are any circumstances in which the ECM test could be applied within the current standard of care.
	This work by PHE concluded in December 2013 that there are no clinical indications for testing women for GBS using ECM methods as recommended within current guidance from the key professional bodies, and therefore no indications which should prompt the offer of an ECM test.
	The UK National Screening Committee also recommended in 2012 that a programme of universal screening of pregnant women at 35 weeks for GBS should not be established in the United Kingdom.
	PHE therefore decided not to provide this test in its laboratories.

Tinnitus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the age groups of tinnitus sufferers in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: No estimate has been made of the number or the age groups of tinnitus sufferers in each of the last three years. This information is not collected centrally.

Vaccination

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what process the post of Director of Immunisation will be filled when the incumbent Director's contract expires.

Jane Ellison: The Department's former Director of Immunisation, Professor David Salisbury retired at the end of 2013 after many years of valuable service.
	Advice on national immunisation policy is now provided through the Department and Public Health England.
	There are no current plans to appoint a direct replacement for Professor Salisbury.

Vaccination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral answer of 14 February 2014, Official Report, column 712, with reference to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's Code of Practice published in June 2013, under what circumstances he would not fulfil his duty to ensure the Joint Committee's recommendations are practicable.

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health is under a statutory obligation, as set out in the Health Protection (Vaccination) Regulations 2009 and the NHS Constitution, to introduce a new national immunisation programme recommended by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), where he has requested a recommendation and cost-effectiveness has been demonstrated. There is no obligation to accept advice from JCVI which falls outside these criteria, although we give all JCVI's advice careful consideration.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Colombia

Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he raised the case of Mr Huber Ballesteros with President Santos during his recent visit to Colombia; and what the outcome was of any such discussions.

Nicholas Clegg: I did not raise the specific case of Mr Huber Ballesteros with President Santos, but as I set out to the House on 11 February, I did raise the importance of protecting trade unionists and human rights defenders in Colombia with President Santos. During his recent visit to Colombia the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), also raised human rights with both President Santos and Defence Minister Pinzón.
	Our ambassador to Colombia has also written to the Colombian Prosecutor-General, who has recently replied to the letter, highlighting our interest in the case and requesting information on the charges. Staff at our embassy in Bogota are seeking permission to visit Mr Ballesteros in jail. In February the ambassador also raised our request with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
	While the UK cannot interfere in Colombia's judicial process, we will continue to monitor Mr Ballesteros' case and raise any concerns regarding due process with the Colombian authorities.

Electoral Register

David Blunkett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 695W, on electoral register, what applicants to the Rock Enrol! initiative were told in the reply they received informing them of the outcome of the process.

Greg Clark: Applicants to the Rock Enrol! initiative were notified that the Government had decided to award funds to every local authority and Valuation Joint Board in the country so that the delivery of Rock Enrol! is available across Great Britain.

Local Government: Urban Areas

Andy Sawford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what progress his Department has made in assessing the bids of the 20 areas invited to bid for City Deal status;
	(2)  how many of the 20 areas invited to bid for City Deal status have been successful to date; and when he expects the decision on the remaining bids to be announced.

Greg Clark: The Government continues to make excellent progress in the second wave of City Deals. To date 12 deals have been concluded with cities and the Government is confident that further deals will be completed in the coming weeks.

Members: Correspondence

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Richmond Park on 5 December 2013 regarding his Ten Minute Rule Bill on Recall; and what the Government's plans are on bringing forward legislative proposals for a recall bill.

Nicholas Clegg: I wrote to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) regarding his Ten Minute Rule Bill on Recall on 24 January. The Government reiterated its commitment to a Recall mechanism in its response to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee's Report on the same topic. The Government's legislative programme for the fourth Session of Parliament will be announced in the Queen's Speech.

CABINET OFFICE

Breast Cancer

Mary Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many breast cancer patients in each Clinical Commissioning Group footprint have survived breast cancer for (a) one year and (b) five years, in each year from 1996 to 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Secretary of State for Health asking how many breast cancer patients in each Clinical Commissioning Group footprint have survived breast cancer for (a) one year and (b) five years, in each year from 1996 to 2012.
	ONS does not produce cancer survival estimates for individual cancer sites, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and years. Such estimates would not be consistently reliable across all CCGs and overtime, because of the low numbers of cancer patients diagnosed and/or surviving.
	One year cancer survival estimates are published for individual CCGs in the form of a combined cancer survival index, for all cancers combined, and for breast, colorectal and lung cancer combined. These figures are available on the National Statistics website:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/a-cancer-survival-index-for-clinical-commissioning-groups/index.html
	Annual one year survival estimates are available for each of the 211 CCGs in England, for patients who were diagnosed during 1996 to 2011 (the latest year available), and followed up to 31 December 2012. These indices were produced for patients living in the territories assigned to each CCG in England at the time of diagnosis.
	Figures for the following cancer survival indices are also presented for patients diagnosed during the same period:
	(1) A cancer survival index for both one and five years after diagnosis, for all cancers combined, for each of the 25 NHS England area teams (ATs),
	(2) A cancer survival index at both one and five years after diagnosis, for three cancers combined (breast (women), colorectal and lung), for each of the 25 NHS England ATs, and
	(3) A cancer survival index at both one and five years after diagnosis, for all cancers combined, for England as a whole.
	In addition, ONS publishes one and five year survival estimates for a range of individual cancer sites (including breast cancer), for England and a range of different geographic areas. These figures are available on the National Statistics website via a range of publications:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival/index.html
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival-by-nhs-england-area-teams/index.html
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival-by-gor--sha-and-cancer-network/index.html

Census: Ethnic Groups

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to ensure that future censuses allow people to identify their ethnicity as British Kashmiri.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker, dated February 2014
	On behalf of the Director General of the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office about whether steps will be taken to ensure future censuses allow people to identify their ethnicity as British Kashmiri (188193).
	At this stage it is too early to know whether there will be another census in England and Wales or what questions might be asked. Any proposals for a question on ethnicity in a future census will be based on a comprehensive programme of consultation and testing to ensure that it will meet users' requirements, be acceptable and understandable to respondents.

Children

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 520W, on children, how many children were living in households where one or both parents were working part-time because they were unable to find full-time work in each quarter between April 2010 and March 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker, dated February 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the number of children living in households where one or both parents were working part-time because they were unable to find full-time work for each quarter between April 2010 and March 2013 (187862).
	Information on the combined economic status of household members, which allows us to look at where both parents are in work comes from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets. These are not produced every quarter and our annual release titled ‘Working and Workless Households’ uses information for the April to June quarter of each year.
	Using these datasets we have been able to calculate the number, of children living in families where one or both parents were working in part-time jobs because they could not find full-time posts for every April to June quarter between 2010 and 2013. These numbers are supplied in the table. Please note, as with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			 Number of children aged 0 to 15, living in families1 where at least one parent was working in a part-time job because they could not find a full-time job—UK, April-June 2010 to April-June 2013 
			 Year Number of children (thousands) 
			 2010 443 
			 2011 521 
			 2012 607 
			 2013 646 
			 1 These numbers include couple families, one parent families and families that are in living in a household with more than one family unit. Source: LFS Household Datasets

Debts

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated average change in the level of household (a) borrowing and (b) debt was between 2008 and 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated February 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking what the estimated average change in the level of household (a) borrowing and (b) debt was between 2008 and 2013. (188039)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes details of the financial liabilities of households and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) combined. The most recent analyses for debt can be found in table A64 of the United Kingdom Economic Accounts (UKEA) 2013 Q3, published on 20 December 2013. Figures on borrowing can be found in tables A12 and A55. The UKEA is available on the ONS web site at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa1-rd/united-kingdom-economic-accounts/q3-2013/index.html
	The data available does not yet cover the whole of the 2013 period. Total financial liabilities in 2008 were £1,536.2 billion while in 2012 (the latest yearly estimate) they were £1,544.5 billion.
	In relation to borrowing, we publish data on net lending and borrowing. Net lending and borrowing is the difference .between the net acquisition of financial assets and the net incurrence of liabilities. In 2008 this joint sector borrowed £43,754 million while in 2012 this position switched and the sector became a lender of £22,911 million.

Government Departments: Food

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance is issued to Government departments on using funds from the public purse for the provision of unhealthy foods for visitors and at meetings.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office issues no such specific guidance. Managing Public Money—issued by HM Treasury—sets out general guidance to Departments on the use of central Government funds.

ICT: Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what funding or support his Department has provided to the Year of Code.

Nick Hurd: Cabinet Office is working to support the Year of the Code including by engaging with various groups and organisations.

Self-employed

Julie Elliott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women are self-employed in each (i) occupational and (ii) industry group in each region.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovations and Skills how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women are self-employed in each (i) occupational and (ii) industry group in each region. (188555)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles estimates of the number of self-employed people from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The attached tables show the number of men and women who were self-employed in each UK region, according to survey responses from the APS for the period October 2012 to September 2013, along with the percentage of those in employment who were self-employed.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a certain level of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates of the level are included on the tables.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library of the House.

Senior Civil Servants: Pay

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column 376W, on the Major Projects Authority, when he plans to update the published senior salaries listing for officials paid over £150,000; and if he will make it his policy to do so in future on a monthly basis.

Francis Maude: An updated list will be published later this year. I have no plans to publish this information on a monthly basis.

Social Enterprises: EU Action

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will support the declaration on social enterprise signed at Strasbourg on 17 January 2014.

Nick Hurd: From the start this Government has been committed to supporting social enterprise through initiatives such as Big Society Capital, the Investment Contract and Readiness Fund and the social investment tax relief. As such we support the spirit of the Strasbourg declaration.

Utilities

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to Table 2 of the Statistical Bulletin: Gross Domestic Product Preliminary Estimate, Q4 2013, published by the Office for National Statistics, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the 2.2 per cent quarterly increase in output in the electricity, gas, steam and air utilities sector in Q4 2013 noted in that publication.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has made of the reasons for the 2.2 per cent quarterly increase in output in the electricity, gas, steam and air utilities sector in Q4 2013 noted in that publication. (187786)
	The electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning industries' output figure published in the preliminary estimate of gross domestic product on the 28th January 2014 was later revised from a growth of 2.2% to a lower growth of 1.8% as stated in the Index of Production statistical bulletin published on the 7th February 2014, due to the receipt of data from the Department for Energy and Climate Change replacing forecasts included in the earlier estimates.
	The component of this industry showing the strongest growth was gas. This was, in large part, a bounce-back after a weak Q3 2013, which was partly due to a reduction in demand for gas for electricity generation in the third quarter. Despite the growth in Q4, the output for these industries was still at a lower level than in Q2 2013 and, indeed, in 2013 as a whole, the industry is estimated to have contracted by 0.6 per cent.

EDUCATION

Adoption

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many adoption breakdowns occurred in each of the years for which records are available.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of adoption breakdowns is not currently available. As announced in September 2012, we will begin collecting data from local authorities in 2013-14 about the number of children who return to care following a previous permanent arrangement. This data will be collected this spring, with publication of the first set of data expected in early autumn.
	We have also commissioned the university of Bristol to carry out new research on the frequency and causes of adoption breakdown. This research aims to address the knowledge gap in relation to the rate of and reasons for adoption breakdown after an adoption order has been granted. The research commenced in December 2011 and will report later in 2014.

Children in Care: Special Educational Needs

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, columns 120-1W, on children: income, what information his Department holds on the special needs of looked after children who have some form of special educational need to ensure that those children are being properly supported.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education holds information on all episodes of care for children looked after by local authorities in England. This has been matched to data supplied by schools on the school census return, including information on special educational needs (SEN) of children. This return includes information on whether the child has a SEN and, if so, their primary and secondary types of need. It also includes information on whether the child is educated in a SEN Unit and, if so, whether they have a statement of SEN, or whether they are classed as School Action or School Action Plus.
	The Department annually publishes a Statistical First Release (SFR) on the outcomes for looked after children, the latest of which was published in December 2013 and relates to children looked after on the 31 March 2013:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-las-in-england
	This SFR contains four tables on SEN, including information on the attainment of looked after children with SEN.

Children: Autism

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that children with autism are not excluded from the classroom.

Edward Timpson: All children, including those with autism, are entitled to a full-time education in school. The Children and Families Bill, supported by a new special educational needs (SEN) Code of Practice, will introduce improved arrangements for the identification, assessment and provision for children with SEN.
	The Department for Education is providing funding of £1.5 million over 2013-15 to the Autism Education Trust to provide training to staff in early years settings, schools and further education colleges. The training ranges from basic awareness training to advanced training for staff such as lead practitioners in autism and school SEN Coordinators. Improved awareness and skills in meeting autistic children's needs will help to prevent them being excluded from the classroom.
	The Department is also providing £440,000 in funding to the National Autistic Society over two years. Part of this funding is being used to employ an exclusions adviser who can give advice to parents and professionals to help prevent all types of exclusion, from lessons to formal exclusion from school. The Department has issued revised statutory guidance on exclusion, clarifying the legal process that must be followed when excluding a pupil from school. The guidance also reinforces that early intervention to address the underlying causes of disruptive behaviour should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEN or disability that a pupil may have.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the publication of 13 February 2014, on the Regulation of Childcare consultation report, what estimate he has made of the number of schools that will now start to offer out-of-hours 8 to 6 care as a result.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has not made such an estimate.

Children: Protection

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2013, Official Report, column 76W, on integrated chronology tool, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children's social care departments comply with the requirements of statutory safeguarding guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013.

Edward Timpson: Local authorities are under a duty to follow statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education unless exceptional circumstances prevent them from doing so. Every local authority is subject to inspection by Ofsted as to the quality of their services for children in need of help and protection. This includes whether assessments are in line with ‘Working together to safeguard children’.
	The Department intervenes to secure improvement in local authorities where there is failure to deliver adequate services, including in the provision of child protection.

Children: Social Services

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made towards the replacement of the Integrated Children's System, as recommended in the Munro Review.

Edward Timpson: Professor Munro did not make any specific recommendations to replace the Integrated Children's System (ICS) in her review of child protection. Her view was that it should be for local areas to determine how their IT systems operate. Since 2006, local authorities have had the autonomy to modify their ICS systems to respond to local needs.

Classroom Assistants

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teaching assistants employed by academies and free schools which converted from the maintained sector were subject to changes in the terms and conditions of their employment contracts (a) when that conversion took place and (b) subsequently.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not collect this data. When a school becomes an academy, staff transfer to the academy under transfer of undertakings (TUPE) regulations. This means that there are protections in place, including a provision that the terms and conditions of employment must not change as a result of the transfer except for very limited reasons.

Creationism

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom rewarding establishments which promote creationism with a Quality Badge award.

Elizabeth Truss: We are committed to making sure that all children receive a high-quality science education. The national curriculum ensures that pupils will be taught the scientific knowledge, such as evolution, which is essential to sound understanding of, and progression in, biology and other scientific disciplines.
	While the Department for Education is interested in the work done by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC), it does not provide funding for them, nor is it involved in deciding which organisations are accredited by the Council. It is entirely a decision for the CLOtC as to which organisations merit their Quality Badge.

Education: Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with Ofsted about altering the evaluation schedule to better incentivise healthy outcomes for pupils.

David Laws: Ofsted are members of the cross-Government Ministerial Board on PE and sport that meets monthly to discuss issues on PE and sport and were also consulted by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, the authors of the School Food Plan.
	Ofsted revised the school inspection handbook from autumn 2013 to ensure that primary schools are inspected on their use of the additional sports funding. Specifically inspectors now look at how schools are improving the quality and breadth of provision, including increasing participation in PE and sport so that all pupils develop healthy lifestyles.
	Ofsted also revised its subsidiary guidance for inspectors to include new content on dining and health.

Education: Finance

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local authorities provided information to the Education Funding Agency regarding high needs funding for people aged between five and 25 years old by 23 December 2013; which local authorities failed to meet this deadline; and which local authorities had failed to provided the information by 31 January 2014.

David Laws: The Education Funding Agency received information from 124 local authorities by 23 December 2013. All local authorities provided the information by 31 January 2014.
	The 28 local authorities that returned their information after 23 December 2013 are:
	Barnsley
	Bracknell Forest
	Brent
	Buckinghamshire
	Durham
	Greenwich
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Hampshire
	Herefordshire
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Lambeth
	Middlesbrough
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Lincolnshire
	Nottinghamshire
	Peterborough
	Richmond upon Thames
	Rutland
	Sheffield
	Southend
	Southwark
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Sunderland
	Tameside
	Westminster
	Wokingham
	Wolverhampton
	York

Education: Standards

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 549, when the consultation will be published; what criteria is outlined in the consultation; when it started; who is being consulted; and if he will look to address the problem of absenteeism amongst Traveller communities.

Michael Gove: Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 states that it is an offence for parents of school registered pupils to fail to secure their attendance at school. Subsection (6) provides that it is a defence if the parents can prove that, (a) the child has no fixed abode, (b) the parent's job requires them to travel and that the child has attended as regularly as the job permits, and (c) where the child is at least six years of age, that the child has made at least 200 attendances. With the aim of improving the average poor school attendance and levels of attainment for pupils from of Gypsy, Roma and Travelling communities, the Department consulted on whether or not to repeal subsection (6) of the Act. The consultation documents can be viewed at the following link:
	https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=conResults&consultationId=1851&external =no&menu=3
	The formal public consultation ran from 30 November 2012 to 22 February 2013. It was a public consultation directed at schools, local authorities, Travelling communities and included a child-friendly version. We are continuing to hold consultative meetings with members of the travelling community, stakeholders and interested groups to discuss this sensitive and complex issue. The Government is now carefully considering the facts and issues to support educational improvements for children from these communities, and aims to publish a response shortly.

Education: West Midlands

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) capital and (b) revenue funding has been allocated by his Department to (i) Coventry City Council and (ii) each local authority in the West Midlands in each year since 2009-10.

David Laws: The following table shows the total revenue allocations (£ millions) made to local authorities in the west midlands from financial year 2009-10 to 2013-14 by the Department for Education (DFE) and its agencies.
	
		
			 West Midlands— Total revenue allocations 
			 £ million 
			 Local Authority 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Coventry 261 285 265 273 280 
			 Birmingham 1,058 1,151 1,067 1,104 1,128 
			 Dudley 247 269 246 250 253 
			 Herefordshire 116 126 115 117 117 
			 Sandwell 261 285 266 275 280 
			 Shropshire 187 203 188 191 191 
			 Solihull 160 175 164 168 170 
			 Staffordshire 565 612 571 581 586 
		
	
	
		
			 Stoke-on-Trent 195 213 195 202 204 
			 Telford and Wrekin 131 139 129 131 132 
			 Walsall 236 257 237 242 243 
			 Warwickshire 361 391 366 373 378 
			 Wolverhampton 213 226 205 211 216 
			 Worcestershire 372 396 369 374 375 
		
	
	For the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 the allocations in the table include the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Standards Fund Grants and School Standards Grants. In 2011-12 funding previously allocated through the Standards Fund and Schools Standards Grants was added to the DSG. From 2011-12 onwards the allocations also include the pupil premium. For all the years in the table DSG allocations include allocations for pupils in schools that have converted to academy status since 2008, and pupil premium figures include pupils in all academies. The data also include children's services grants.
	It is not possible to compare funding from year to year. During this time there were some transfers of funding between the DFE and other Government Departments. These were mainly small amounts but the most significant were the education services grant, which transferred from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to the DFE in 2013-14, and the Early Intervention Grant, which was introduced in 2011-12 and transferred from the DFE to DCLG in 2013-14. These grants are included in the figures for the years in which they were funded by the DFE. The 2013-14 figures also include physical education and sport premium allocations.
	The following table sets out capital allocations (£ million) made to local authorities in the west midlands from financial year 2009-10 to 2013-14. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million and there may be small variations due to rounding of different funding streams.
	It is not possible to compare funding across years, because we fund school building and maintenance differently over time, with, for example, less money now going to local authorities, and more being used to deliver centrally-managed programmes or going directly to academies and free schools.
	
		
			 West Midlands—Total capital allocations (excluding TBN, PSBP, DGCF, MyPlace projects and funding allocated directly to academies and free schools) 
			 £ million 
			 Local authority 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Coventry 25 17 17 16 12 
			 Birmingham 92 106 183 96 29 
			 Dudley 22 19 8 7 7 
			 Herefordshire 15 18 6 4 3 
			 Sandwell 44 45 48 13 12 
			 Shropshire 21 21 11 8 7 
			 Solihull 15 15 6 5 4 
			 Staffordshire 52 40 39 53 26 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 15 32 86 64 36 
		
	
	
		
			 Telford and Wrekin 12 38 19 22 35 
			 Walsall 22 26 10 7 5 
			 Warwickshire 36 32 24 27 15 
			 Wolverhampton 18 53 66 54 59 
			 Worcestershire 37 36 19 17 12 
		
	
	The data for the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 are taken from publicly available information on the website of the DCLG, and includes a wide range of grants. We have also included funding for Building Schools for the Future (BSF), for short breaks, and for the legacy academies programme. It does not include funding for 14-19 capital or young people's secure accommodation.
	The data for the financial years 2011-12 onwards are taken from publicly available information on the DFE website, and includes formulaic allocations for new school places (basic need), and for maintenance (including devolved formula capital). It also includes funding for BSF, for short breaks, and for the legacy academies programme as above.
	Maintenance funding allocations made to individual local authorities have fallen over the period shown as maintained schools have converted to become academies and so instead are eligible to receive funding through the academies capital maintenance fund, which is not shown in this table.
	The table does not include funding allocated through targeted and bid-based programmes such as the Targeted Basic Need (TBN) programme and the Demographic Growth Capital Fund (DGCF). It does not include centrally-managed programmes, such as the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), or capital funding allocated directly to academies and free schools. It does not contain funding allocated to deliver MyPlace projects.

English Baccalaureate: Special Educational Needs

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2014, Official Report, columns 105-6W, on special educational need, what guidance his Department gives schools on whether to enter special educational need pupils in the English Baccalaureate instead of GCSEs.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education encourages all pupils—including those with SEN—to pursue achievement in EBacc qualifications where possible.

Foster Care

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 213W, on foster care, when his Department's human resources policy for staff who foster or are kinship carers will be available.

Edward Timpson: This policy is scheduled to be published shortly.

Free School Meals

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what effect the Government's plans for free school lunches for reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in state schools will have on his Department's use of the number of pupils from reception to Year 11 eligible for free schools meals at any point in the last six years when calculating pupil premium.

David Laws: Schools will continue to receive pupil premium funding on the same basis as before. Funding allocations for 2014-15 will be based on School Census data collected this January. In subsequent years, the Department for Education will continue to use the School Census to gather the same data about pupils in families that receive the relevant benefits that currently entitle them to a free school meal. This information will be used to allocate the pupil premium, as well as other deprivation-related school funding.

Free School Meals

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the uptake of funding for free school lunches for reception, year 1 and year 2 pupils in state schools; and whether there will be clawback of this funding where uptake is less than 100 per cent.

David Laws: All pupils in reception, year one and year two in state-funded schools in England will be offered free meals from September 2014. The take-up of meals by pupils involved in the universal primary free school meal pilots between 2009 and 2011 averaged 78% in Newham and 85% in Durham in the first year, and 83% in both authorities in the second year, as published in the impact report on the pilot areas.1
	The revenue funding allocated to schools will be based on actual take-up of meals by newly eligible infant pupils, when this is available. This will be measured in the school census from October 2014. Revenue funding allocations will be adjusted to reflect take-up.
	1 Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-free-school-rneals-pilot-impact-report

Free Schools

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many independent schools have applied to become free schools to date; how many such applications have been approved; and what the cost of the application and approval process is.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education received 199 applications from independent schools seeking to become free schools in the first four waves. Of those applications, 13 independent converters have opened to date with a further three in the pre-opening stage.
	We do not gather information on the costs of running the application and approval stage of the process.

Free Schools

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons independent schools can convert to free schools but maintained schools are unable to do so; and if he will change this policy to allow maintained schools to so convert.

Edward Timpson: Free schools are a type of academy with the same legal structure and freedoms. Maintained schools have their own conversion process which allows all schools to become academies either by themselves or as part of an established trust. Thousands of head teachers in maintained schools have already chosen to take advantage of the benefits that come with academy status.

Free Schools

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many existing free schools (a) have a leasehold or rental agreement for the site of their school and (b) own the freehold of their school site.

Edward Timpson: Of the 174 free schools that are currently open, 125 have exchanged or completed contracts for their permanent sites. Of those 125, 54 own the freehold of their site and 71 occupy them on a leasehold basis.
	We are in the process of negotiating permanent sites for the remaining 49.

Free Schools

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many free schools that have a rental or leasehold agreement for the site of their school are owned by a (a) local authority, (b) public body, (c) company and (d) private individual.

Edward Timpson: We do not hold the information requested centrally for all open free school sites and collating it would incur disproportionate cost.

Free Schools

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many planned free schools that have a rental or leasehold agreement for the site of their school are owned by a (a) local authority, (b) public body, (c) company and (d) private individual;
	(2)  how many planned free schools (a) have a leasehold or rental agreement for the site of their school and (b) own the freehold of their school site.

Edward Timpson: It is still early stages for schools due to open in September 2014. We are confident that sites will be agreed for the vast majority of schools due to open this September. So far we have already, exchanged or completed contracts for sites for 16 free schools. This is in line with previous years at the same stage.
	Eight have a rental or leasehold agreement and eight already own the freehold. Of the eight which have rental or leasehold agreements, five of those are owned by local authorities, two are owned by public bodies and one is owned by a company.

Further Education: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency will be affected by the reduction in funding for 18-year-olds at further education colleges.

Matthew Hancock: There are 249 students aged 18 who are affected by the reduction in funding who live in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency.
	Data is based on the 2012/13 R14 Individualised Learner Record, the latest available full year of data. Data refers to 18-year-old non-high needs students on full-time (540+hours) programmes in a further education institution (GFE colleges, sixth-form colleges and commercial and charitable providers). This will not include any students on apprenticeship provision. Students who live in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency do not necessarily study there.
	Data supplied includes student numbers for further education colleges (FE), defined as sixth-form colleges and general FE colleges, including tertiary colleges.

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made by his Department in implementing the commitments contained in the Government’s action plan for transgender equality; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: Good progress has been made in delivering the commitments identified in 'Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action'.
	A report on progress on the action plan will be published in due course.

Guardianship

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if his Department will carry out a review of the effectiveness of child guardians and the effect their involvement has on the length of care proceedings.

Edward Timpson: The length of care proceedings and the role of the children's guardian were examined as part of the Family Justice Review. This is available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217343/family-justice-review-final-report.pdf
	Under the new framework for inspecting Cafcass, which was launched in December 2013, Ofsted will look closely at the effectiveness of children's guardians.
	As set out in the Family Justice Board Action Plan for 2013-15, we are gathering data on the causes of court adjournments, including advice provided by children's guardians. The action plan is available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226853/family-justice-board-action-plan.pdf

ICT: Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding or support his Department has provided to the Year of Code.

Elizabeth Truss: The Year of Code campaign, which was launched on 4 February 2014, is an independent campaign. Although the Government did not contribute any funding to this campaign, we believe that it will inspire young people to learn to code and develop an interest in computer science, something that will be taught in schools as part of the new computing curriculum from September 2014.

Institute of Physics

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the success rates by route of entry is for physics ITE place acceptances.

David Laws: The following table is derived from published initial teacher training (ITT) performance profiles.1 The latest published data is for the academic year 2011/12. The data for the academic year 2012/13 will be published in the autumn of this year.
	
		
			 Qualified teacher status award rate of physics trainees by ITT route, 2011/12 
			  Percentage 
			 Employment-based routes 89 
			 Higher education institution routes 78 
			 School-centred ITT routes 88 
		
	
	In 2011/12, 48% of physics entrants to employment-based routes and 52% of physics entrants to school-centred routes with a UK degree had a 2:1 or above, compared with 43% of physics entrants to higher education institution routes.
	1 Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-performance-profiles-2013-management-data

Kings Science Academy

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 427W, on Kings Science Academy, if he will publish the assessment of the leasehold options against a freehold acquisition of Hartley Business Park in Lidget Green.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not publish such assessments. To do so could inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and impact on the Department's ability to maintain a strong bargaining position for other free school sites.

Languages: Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to help students who want to learn foreign languages.

Elizabeth Truss: Learning a foreign language provides an opening to other cultures, fostering pupils' curiosity and deepening their understanding of the world. It also equips pupils to study and work in other countries.
	The English Baccalaureate is already encouraging more young people to take a language at GCSE level. The number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) in England entered for a modem foreign language GCSE increased by over 20% from 2012 to 2013.
	We have introduced a foreign language at key stage 2 (ages seven to 11) as part of the new national curriculum, which comes into force in England from September 2014. Schools will be able to teach any modern or ancient foreign language.

Ministers' Private Offices

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers.

Michael Gove: The annual cost of staffing Ministers' private offices in the Department for Education has been reduced by more than £440,000 under this Government. The size of Ministers' allocated offices and the number and grades of officials working for each Minister is presented in the following table. Apart from the office for the Minister for Skills, a new joint Business, Innovation and Skills and Department for Education post created after the election in May 2010, the offices used by Ministers in the Department for Education are the same as those used by Ministers in the previous Government:
	
		
			 Ministerial Private Office:  Office size m2 Staff numbers Grade 
			 right hon. Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Education 73.5 1 EAAO 
			   1— 1 EO 
			   1— 2 HEO 
			   1— 1 Grade 7 
			   1— 1 Grade 6 
			   1— 1 SCS Band 1 
			      
			 right hon. David Laws MP Minister of State (jointly with the Cabinet Office) 45 1 EAAO 
			   1— 1 EO 
			   1— 1 HEO 
			   1— 1 Grade 7 
			      
			 Edward Timpson MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 45 3 EO 
			   1— 1 HEO 
			      
			 Elizabeth Truss MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 36 3 EO 
			   1— 1 HEO 
			      
			 Lord Nash Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 45 3 EO 
			   1— 1 HEO 
			      
			 Matthew Hancock MP Minister of State (jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) 50 — — 
			 1 Indicates brace 
		
	
	Private Office staff work in the open plan office space adjacent to ministerial offices.
	Mathew Hancock works jointly at the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. One EO grade member of staff working in Matthew Hancock's private office is employed by the Department for Education.

Pre-school Education

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many three and four year olds in each parliamentary constituency receive free early years education outside of reception classes.

Michael Gove: The numbers of three- and four-year-olds accessing funded early years education, by local authority, is available on the Department for Education's website at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/provision-for-children-under-5-years-of-age-in-england-january-2013

Priority School Building Programme

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects the next round of priority school building funds to be available.

David Laws: By the summer we will have collected up-to-date, reliable and validated condition information for the entire schools estate, and our intention remains to use the information from the surveys to better target funding according to need from 2015-16.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 101W, on pupils: disadvantaged, what estimate his Department has made of the number of pupils who will benefit from the pupil premium in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Worcestershire and (c) Redditch.

David Laws: Pupil premium allocations for financial year 2014-15 will be finalised in summer 2014 when the January 2014 school census data are available. The numbers of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in 2013-14 in the requested areas are:
	
		
			  Redditch parliamentary constituency Worcestershire county council West Midlands region 
			 Number of pupils eligible for the deprivation pupil premium1 2,950 14,710 241,480 
			 Number of children eligible for the looked after child pupil premium2 n/a 370 5,510 
			 Total disadvantaged pupils eligible for the pupil premium 2,980 15,250 250,130 
			 1 Pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals since summer term 2007. 2 Pupils recorded as continuously in care for at least six months as at 31 March 2013. Note: The figures for the Redditch constituency do not include looked after children because funding is allocated at local authority level not individual school level. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 534W, on pupils: disadvantaged, when data on the number of eligible pupils in each school which will be used to allocate the pupil premium for 2014-15 and beyond will be available.

David Laws: Pupil premium allocations for financial year 2014-15 will be finalised in summer 2014, when the January 2014 school census data is available. Data from the January 2015 school census, used to calculate the 2015-16 pupil premium allocations, will be available in summer 2015.

Pupils: Ethnic Groups

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what initiatives his Department is undertaking to monitor and raise educational attainment among children of minority ethnic origin.

David Laws: The Government's education reforms are designed to ensure that all pupils, including those from minority ethnic groups, receive the high-quality education they deserve. We refuse to accept that children from low-income backgrounds or minority ethnic groups cannot be expected to do just as well and perform just as highly as their peers.
	Our academies programme is specifically benefiting black and minority ethnic (BME) pupils who most need new educational opportunities. Sponsored academies have higher levels of BME pupils than the rest of the state sector, both at secondary and at primary. BME pupils in sponsored academies outperform pupils from similar backgrounds in comparable local authority schools.
	Free schools also have higher proportions of BME pupils than the national average—and in some cases higher than the average for their local area.
	Reforms such as the new secondary accountability measures, emphasis on core academic qualifications through the EBacc, and the refocusing of Ofsted's school inspection regime on teaching and learning, will ensure high standards for all and hold schools to account. The pupil premium will also help raise standards for many minority ethnic pupils in low-income families.

Sandymoor School

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any additional funding (a) has been and (b) is planned to be allocated to Sandymore Free School in Runcorn during 2014.

Edward Timpson: The total revenue funding awarded to Sandymoor Free School in 2013-14 is published online:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/efafundingfinance/b00213953/academies-funding-2013-14/academyallocations1314
	There are no plans for any additional revenue funding to be provided in the current academic year.

Sandymoor School

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils are currently enrolled in Sandymore Free School, Runcorn.

Edward Timpson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Nic Dakin), on 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 72W.

Sandymoor School

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the current funding level per pupil is at Sandymore Free School, Runcorn.

Edward Timpson: The total revenue funding awarded to Sandymoor Free School in 2013-14 is available here:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/efafundingfinance/b00213953/academies-funding-2013-14/academyallocations1314
	This was based on an estimated 119 pupils. Where free schools are funded in an academic year of its estimated pupil numbers, we will make an adjustment in line with its funding agreement in the following year, clawing back or awarding more funding if the estimated numbers are not realised.
	All open free schools are funded using the local authority funding formula in the same way as academies and local authority maintained schools in their area. Typically, any new school with a new intake each year would be on estimated pupil numbers.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Government Department has responsibility for asbestos policy for schools in Wales.

David Laws: Responsibility for asbestos policy for schools in Wales is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Government department is responsible for the management of asbestos in schools in Wales.

David Laws: Responsibility for the management of asbestos in schools in Wales is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government.

Schools: Construction

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 60W, on schools: construction, which schools (a) have started construction and (b) will start construction before May 2015 under the current timetable.

David Laws: We are currently working with 221 schools in the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). Before building work can begin, plans must be drawn up, contracts negotiated and planning permission secured. Under Building Schools for the Future (BSF), it took three years from first planning for building works to begin. We have cut this to one year under the PSBP programme.
	Construction work has already started at 20 schools (17 under main works contracts and three under early works agreements), and we expect work to start on a further six to eight schools this month.
	A list of the schools can be found as follows:
	i. Alice Stevens School
	ii. Durham Trinity School and Sports College
	iii. Ernesford Grange Community School
	iv. Fountaindale School
	v. Garston Manor School
	vi. Hill Top School
	vii. Ian Ramsey C of E Aided Comprehensive School
	viii. King James I Academy Bishop Auckland
	ix. Lees Brook Community School
	x. Mill Green School
	xi. St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
	xii. Stratford School Academy
	xiii. The Cedar School
	xiv. Usworth Grange Primary School
	xv. West Cornforth Primary School
	xvi. Whitmore Park Primary School
	xvii. Wyken Croft Primary School
	xviii. Goole High School
	xix. Collegiate High School
	xx. Highfurlong School
	We will be working with all schools in the programme by the end of 2014 and the first school will open later this year. All schools in the programme will be delivered by the end of 2017.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2013 to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse, Official Report, column 208W, on schools: buildings, what progress his Department has made with its review of the guidance on fire safety in schools; and what his policy is on the installation of fire sprinklers in schools.

David Laws: The Department for Education will be publishing revised guidance titled ‘Fire Safety Design for Schools’, later this year. This will replace the current guidance contained within Building Bulletin 100:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/buildingsanddesign/environmental/a0063718/fire-safety-design-guidance-building-bulletin-100
	Regarding the installation of sprinklers in schools, the Department's policy is that they should be installed in new school buildings where there is a real and significant risk, as identified in a fire risk assessment.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of how schools can best support pupils to pursue further education and careers in STEM subjects.

Elizabeth Truss: There has been a 30% rise in GCSE physics, chemistry and biology entries since 2010 and record numbers of pupils are taking maths and sciences at A level.
	We are also making it clear to pupils and their parents that mathematics is vital whatever career they want to go into. Those achieving A level maths earn up to 10% more as adults than those without. Mathematics, computer science and engineering are among the top five degrees for future earnings.
	The key to getting more students to take mathematics is the quality of teaching. To ensure high quality teaching we offer bursaries of up to £25,000 to attract the best graduates into teaching mathematics and science. We also fund programmes to provide good quality subject specific professional development, through the Regional Science Learning Centres and the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. We have recently announced £11 million to fund 30 new maths hubs to drive up the quality of mathematics teaching from primary school onwards.
	We have an ambition for the overwhelming majority of young people in England to study mathematics at least to age 18 by 2020. We want to be in a position where all students and their parents think about which kind of maths they will pursue as part of their post-16 programme rather than if they will continue to study mathematics at all. That is why students who have not achieved at least a grade C in GCSE mathematics by the age of 16 are required to continue to study mathematics post-16. Furthermore, new core maths qualifications will be available from 2015, which build on GCSE study and develop competence in more advanced mathematical thinking and problem solving, and will be suitable for those students who do not go on to study A level mathematics.
	We are also funding Cambridge university to develop challenging materials for both mathematics and physics A Levels to better prepare students for STEM degree courses. These extension materials aim to boost students' problem solving skills and should give state school pupils a better chance of studying at the best universities. They will be made available online for schools and colleges to access and will be supported by a programme of professional development for teachers.
	Our reform of the national curriculum and qualifications will ensure young people have the essential skills and knowledge to progress to further study post-16.

Secondary Education: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of secondary education in Copeland constituency.

Edward Timpson: We will challenge poor performance in any school. We will seek academy solutions when schools fail.

Secondary Education: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from (a) headteachers, (b) Ofsted and (c) parents on the quality of secondary education in (i) Cumbria and (ii) Copeland constituency.

Edward Timpson: In the last 12 months the Department for Education has not received any written representations from head teachers or parents about the quality of secondary education in Cumbria or Copeland.
	In November and December last year, Ofsted carried out focused inspections of a group of secondary schools in Cumbria. The findings from these inspections are summarised in a letter from Ofsted to the chief executive of Cumbria county council, which was published on Ofsted's website on 10 February 2014:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/local-authorities/cumbria

Social Workers: Crimes of Violence

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current legislative provisions to protect social workers from violence when carrying out their work.

Edward Timpson: There are a range of offences having general application that criminalise disorderly and violent behaviour, which would apply in cases of violence towards people whose work brings them into contact with members of the public. These offences cover the full spectrum of unacceptable behaviour, from using abusive language to the most serious and violent offences.
	Moreover, sentencing guidelines specify that, where an assault is committed against someone providing a service to the public, this is an aggravating factor and so should result in a higher sentence within the current maxima.

Special Educational Needs

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, columns 217-8W, on special educational needs (SEN), what guidance his Department plans to issue to local authorities on building on existing parent partnership services in order to provide information, advice and support to parents and young people up to 25 years old with SEN, about education, health and social care.

Edward Timpson: The SEN Code of Practice will set out more detail on what impartial advice and information should be offered to children and young people with SEN or disabilities, and their parents.

Special Educational Needs

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether information about the statutory guidance on social care for deafblind children and adults guidance will be included in Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education recently consulted publicly on a draft special educational needs (SEN) code of practice. We are making revisions to it to take account of developments during the passage of the Children and Families Bill and responses to the consultation.
	As this is taken forward, we will continue to work with people who must have regard to the code of practice and those who support children, young people and families. Once this work is completed, the revised code of practice will be placed before both Houses of Parliament for approval.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) from a minority ethnic background.

Michael Gove: The Department has no mandatory or contractual requirement for staff to share their diversity data. As a result, the figures we have will include people we have categorised as 'prefer not to say'.
	We are unable to identify the ethnicity of those people that were recruited via external recruitments without exceeding the cost threshold. We have provided information on people that have been added to our headcount in the period.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 White 35.71 35.46 43.19 30.81 
			 BME 1.43 5,95 7.91 5.95 
			 Preferred not to say 62.86 58.59 48.90 63.24 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	The percentage figures in the table are all rounded to two decimal places.

Teachers: Industrial Disputes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will enter into talks with the National Union of Teachers and NAWUWT to resolve their trade disputes.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has met frequently with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) to discuss their concerns and will continue to do so. The Secretary of State has offered a programme of talks with all representative organisations, including the NUT and NASUWT. These talks will focus on policy implementation across a range of policy areas, including those covered by the NUT and NASUWT trade disputes.

Teachers: Training

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether sixth form colleges are able to access the funding announced on 5 February 2014 to encourage graduates to teach mathematics.

Matthew Hancock: This funding is for further education colleges and training providers.
	Sixth form colleges and school sixth forms already have access to Initial Teacher Training bursaries, student loans, subject knowledge enhancement payments, support from specialist leaders of education and grants from the School Direct programme to cover recruitment and training of graduates.
	These are not available to further education and the new scheme has been introduced to address this.

Young People: Visual Impairment

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what plans he has to update the publication Quality Standards: Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with a Visual Impairment, published in January 2011; and whether that guidance will be put on a statutory footing;
	(2)  what the role of the local offer will be in the commissioning of habilitation and other specialist services;
	(3)  how (a) habilitation and (b) other specialist services will be commissioned after implementation of the provisions of the Children and Families Bill;
	(4)  whether local authorities will be expected to include (a) habilitation services and (b) other specialist services in their local offer for children and young people with special educational needs.

Edward Timpson: The Quality standards for Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with a Visual Impairment were developed by the Royal National Institute for Blind People with funding from the then Department for Children, Schools and Families. They are available for local authorities and others to use if they wish.
	The Government has amended the clauses on joint commissioning and the local offer in the Children and Families Bill to include services for disabled children and young people alongside those with special educational needs (SEN). The draft SEN Code of Practice, published for consultation in October 2013, makes clear that local authorities should include in their local offer information about special educational provision made available to mainstream schools, early years providers, special units, alternative provision and other settings such as sensory support services. Local authorities will therefore be able to include information about habitation and other specialist services for children and young people with a visual impairment.
	It will be up to local authorities and their partner commissioning bodies to decide what services to commission, taking account of local needs. Such services could include habilitation and other specialist services.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the annual cost is of a place at a secure children’s homes; and what estimate his Department has made of the likely annual cost of a place at secure college or secure training college.

Edward Timpson: Placements in secure children's homes occur via two different routes. Either young people will have been remanded or sentenced by the courts; or a secure welfare order is made under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 when they become a danger to themselves or others. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) only has responsibility for those young people that are remanded or sentenced by the courts and has a series of block contracts for that purpose. Welfare beds are spot purchased by individual authorities as required. The 2013/14 average annual price for YJB-contracted beds is £209,000. The average annual price for welfare beds is £277,000.
	In its response to the consultation Transforming Youth Custody, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced it would be introducing a new model of youth custody, the secure college, which could accommodate all young people currently placed in YOIs and secure training centres (STCs), as well as some currently placed in SCHs. We anticipate retaining some specialist custodial provision for the very youngest and most vulnerable young people remanded or sentenced to custody by the courts, but our vision is for secure colleges to cater for the vast majority of young people in custody. The average cost of a place in youth custody is around £100,000 per annum. Secure colleges will achieve ongoing savings by operating at a significantly lower cost per place than the current average, while allowing withdrawal from more expensive and inefficient provision. The larger sizes of secure colleges will allow a broader curriculum and range of services to be provided at a lower cost, without any compromise in the safeguarding of young people. The MOJ will not be able to confirm the annual cost per place until it has completed the operator competition for the pathfinder secure college.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library staff codes of conduct currently in use at secure children homes.

Edward Timpson: Staff in children's homes, including secure children's homes, have to meet the regulations, statutory guidance, and national minimum standards issued under the Children Act 1989 and the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/childrenincare/g00222870/children-act-1989-childrens-homes
	and
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130903163257/http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/childrenincare/childrenshomes/a00191997/childrens-homes-regulations-guidance-and-national-minimum-standards
	Copies have been placed in the House Library.
	In 2012 the Youth Justice Board issued 'Managing the Behaviour of Children and Young People in the Secure Estate Code of Practice'. A copy can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/youth-justice/custody/mmpr/behaviour-management-code-of-practice.pdf
	A copy has been placed in the House Library.

TRANSPORT

Abellio Greater Anglia

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the number of commuters who will use Greater Anglia services at peak time in each of the next 20 years; and what plans he has to increase capacity (a) between London and Colchester and (b) on other key sections.

Stephen Hammond: The Government's Rail Investment Strategy (HLOS) sets out our forecast of peak passenger growth to be accommodated into Liverpool Street station by 2019 and provides the necessary funding to facilitate this. The West Anglia Route Strategy is refreshing the longer term usage forecasts and these will inform future investment decisions.

Assets

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department are working on the sale of (a) the Government's shareholding in Eurostar International Ltd and (b) London and Continental Railways property assets.

Stephen Hammond: No sale processes for the UK Government's 40% shareholding in Eurostar International Ltd or London and Continental Railways (LCR) Limited 'major property holdings' have been launched. Both assets are held by LCR, which is 100% owned by the Department for Transport.
	We currently have a total of three full time equivalent (where one FTE is from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills) working on the sale feasibility of Government's shareholding in Eurostar.
	In line with the autumn statement of 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 1101-1113, the potential for these sales and targeted timeframe of 2014-20 for both are subject to value for money assessments and key policy objectives.

Aviation: India

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he take steps to facilitate direct flights from Heathrow to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Goodwill: The opportunities already exist under the bilateral UK/India Air Services Arrangements for airlines to operate this route. Airlines operate in a competitive commercial environment and it is entirely for individual airlines to assess and determine the services they plan to operate.

Bus Services: Greater London

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the total value is of the bus service operator grant that has been devolved to the Greater London Assembly since 1 October 2013 to date;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the total value of the bus service operator grant that will devolve to the Greater London Assembly in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-6 and (c) 2016-17.

Stephen Hammond: A sum of £45.875 million was paid to the Greater London Authority and Transport for London in 2013 in the form of Business Rate Retention (BRR) and General Grant to replace the Bus Service Operators Grant previously paid to bus operators in London. A total of £92.404 million will be paid to these bodies in due course for 2014-15, for the same purpose. The amount devoted to supporting bus services in 2015-16 will be for the GLA/TFL to decide from within their overall BRR and grant allocation for that year.
	The figures for 2016-17 have yet to be agreed, and will be addressed as part of the next spending review.

Bus Services: Technology

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost of installing facilities to announce the next stop and the final destinations in all buses used for public transport in the UK.

Stephen Hammond: Our recent Accessibility Action Plan progress report, published on 23 December 2013, estimated that installing audio-visual announcement systems (including next-stop and final destination information) on all new buses could cost between £5.75 million to £9.7 million every year, based on industry projections.
	The total cost of retrofitting audio/visual technology onto all buses is more difficult to estimate as this depends greatly on the complexity and layout of the existing core system and on a variety of different vehicle designs. Bearing in mind the number of uncertainties involved, we have estimated that installing these systems on all buses in the UK under five years old could somewhere between £29 million and £38.8 million. These figures do not include London, where all buses operate with audio/visual announcement systems.

Bus Services: Technology

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many bus companies have voluntarily introduced audio-visual announcements into their fleets to date; and what the (a) number and (b) percentage of buses in operation is which provide audio-visual announcements;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the success of his policy of encouraging voluntary uptake of audio-visual announcements on buses.

Stephen Hammond: Research commissioned by the Department for Transport estimates that in 2012 there were 8,877 buses operating in England that offered audio announcements on the destination of the bus and the next stop, compared to 8,812 buses in 2011. This amounts to approximately 25% of all buses in England.
	Although we do not hold specific data from each bus operator on the number or percentage of buses using audio/visual systems in 2013, we are currently examining whether this information can be gathered as part of the Department's next annual bus operator survey, due to be published in the autumn.
	Since 2012, we are aware that local operators such as Reading Buses and Go North East have added on-board audio visual announcements to a number of their major bus routes, while Nottingham City Transport have invested over £5 million in 2013 on new buses with audio visual announcements to enhance 20 routes across their city bus network.
	In addition, at least five local authorities (Bournemouth, Hampshire, Milton Keynes, York and the West Midlands ITA) are implementing plans to increase the provision of audio-visual systems on buses in their local area as part of projects bid for under the Department's £70 million 'Better Bus Area' fund.

Bus Services: Technology

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bus companies have received what value of incentive payments for use of (a) low carbon emission buses, (b) smart ticketing technology and (c) automatic vehicle location technology to date.

Stephen Hammond: A list of the bus companies which received funding under each of these incentives as of May 2013 can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/199169/list-of-English-bus-operators.pdf
	The total paid out under each incentive is set out in the following table. Figures for individual operators are not readily available.
	
		
			 Payment of Bus Service Operators Grant incentives 2010-11 to 2012-13 
			 £000 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Low Carbon Emission 92 291 1,456 
			 Smartcard only 240 2,854 2,296 
			 Automatic Vehicle Location only 311 2,014 975 
			 Smartcard and AVL 1,406 8,309 16,609

Bus Services: Technology

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to launch a review into future incentive payments to bus operators for (a) using low carbon emission buses, (b) fitting buses with smartcard technology and (c) fitting buses with automatic vehicle location equipment; and whether the public will be consulted over the findings of such a review.

Stephen Hammond: We intend that the low carbon emission, smartcard and automatic vehicle location incentives paid under the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) system will be reviewed this year as part of a planned wider review of BSOG. We envisage that those with an interest would be given an opportunity to submit their views as part of the review.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the outcome of his review of the work of the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland.

Stephen Hammond: We were keen to listen to all representations from Northern Ireland elected representatives and consider the full implications before reaching such an important decision. No final decision has been taken. Once a decision is made an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Driving Offences

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many new drivers accumulated six penalty points within the two year probationary period in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many notifications by a court or fixed penalty office were received by the DVLA following the accumulation of six penalty points by a new driver within the two year probationary period in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many notifications of endorsement from a court or fixed penalty office of a driver who meets the criteria of the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 were received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency following the accumulation of six penalty points by a new driver within the two year probationary period in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is available only from 2010 onwards. Details of driving convictions prior to this will have been removed from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) record on expiry of the endorsement—normally four years from the date of the offence. The following table shows the information requested from 1 February 2010 to 1 February 2014:
	
		
			  Number of drivers/notifications 
			 2010 11,757 
			 2011 11,074 
			 2012 10,781 
			 2013 7,188 
			 2014 up to 1 February 10 
			   
			 Total 40,810

Driving: Licensing

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 238W, on driving: licensing, what proportion of new drivers have had their licence revoked by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency during their two year probationary period in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is not usually collated. In 2009 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency did carry out detailed analysis of driving tests; this analysis showed that of the 714,904 drivers who passed their first test in 2009, 12,666 were revoked during the probationary period. This equates to 2% of the total.

East Coast Railway Line

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which areas of the InterCity East Coast rail passenger franchise contract that bidders will be encouraged to resource in addition to the acquisition price set through the locked box mechanism.

Stephen Hammond: The acquisition price for the East Coast Main Line Company Ltd will reflect the value that Directly Operated Railways place on certain assets (such as ticket barriers, driver simulators and the value of points in the customer loyalty scheme) of the business that is being sold through the locked box mechanism to the successful bidder for the new Intercity East Coast Franchise, in addition to acquiring these assets, bidders will be expected to submit tenders for the franchise in accordance with the forthcoming Invitation to Tender, which will include a proposed profile of premium payments.

East Coast Railway Line

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  for what reasons 7 December 2013 was selected as the locked box balance sheet date in the prospectus for the InterCity East Coast franchise;
	(2)  for what reasons 7 December 2013 was selected as the locked box balance sheet date for setting the acquisition price in the Invitation to Tender document for the InterCity East Coast franchise.

Stephen Hammond: The locked box balance sheet date was set at 7 December 2013 to allow Directly Operated Railways' and East Coast Main Line's reporting accountants sufficient time to undertake a full audit of those accounts prior to them being released to bidders as part of the Invitation to Tender. The specific date was picked as this is the end of a railway reporting period.

East Coast Railway Line

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the acquisition price that the successful bidder will pay for the InterCity East Coast franchise is capped at £20 million; and what recent estimate he has made of the acquisition price for that franchise.

Stephen Hammond: The prospectus for the new Intercity East Coast franchise explains that we expect the acquisition price that the successful bidder will pay for the company will be no more than £20 million. The final price will be set out in the forthcoming Invitation to Tender.

East-West Rail Link

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on identifying and evaluating potential routes for the East-West rail link from Bedford to Cambridge; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The East West Rail Consortium is working with the Department and Network Rail to identify the transport needs and economic opportunities a new railway between Bedford and Cambridge might meet. The results are expected in March and will be used to explore route options.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The total departmental expenditure for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity for each of the last five years was:
	2010-11: £227,876
	2011-12: £282,975
	2012-13: £270,991
	2013-14: £185,229 (projected to 31 March 2014).
	Expenditure records are not held centrally for financial years prior to 2010-11.
	The number and cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity for each of the last five years was:
	2009-10: eight people1
	2010-11: five people: £172,420
	2011-12: three people (2.5 full-time equivalent): £130,631
	2012-13: three people (2.5 full-time equivalent): £132,064
	2013-14 (projected): three people (2.5 full-time equivalent): £132,865.
	1 Expenditure records are not held centrally for financial years prior to 2010-11.

First Capital Connect

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from First Capital Connect seeking compensation from Network Rail in the event of Network Rail infrastructure failings; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The policy regarding compensatory mechanisms for delays and cancellations attributed to Network Rail are a matter for operators and Network Rail. First Capital Connect provides its management accounts to the department on a four-weekly basis, which includes commercial and performance information, although no further representations have been received from First Capital Connect on this specific subject.

First Capital Connect

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from First Capital Connect on whether compensation from Network Rail in the event of delay to operating services as a result of Network Rail infrastructure failings (a) over the Great Northern route and (b) the Hertford Loop will be passed on to the cost of passengers' tickets; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The operator compensation regime for delays and cancellations attributed to Network Rail is entirely separate from First Capital Connects Delay Repay compensation scheme, under which passengers are entitled to claim compensation for delays to journeys of over 30 minutes whatever their cause. No recent representations have been received on this subject from First Capital Connect.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which properties in Phase 1 and Phase 2 areas have (a) been purchased to date, (b) exchanged contracts for purchase and (c) undergone a regulation to purchase by HS2 Ltd in each local authority area.

Robert Goodwill: Land and property information for Government Departments which falls under the responsibility of English Ministers is published online at the following link:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epims
	This therefore includes the addresses of property owned by the Secretary of State for Transport, for question (a).
	The most recently published dataset relates to properties purchased by the end of October 2013. The following is a summary of those data by local authority area and HS2 Phase area:
	
		
			 Phase One 
			 Local authority Number of properties purchased at 31 October 2013 
			 Buckinghamshire County 44 
			 Greater London Authority 3 
			 Northamptonshire County 10 
			 Oxfordshire County Council 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Solihull MBC 3 
			 Staffordshire County Council 14 
			 Warwickshire County 28 
		
	
	
		
			 Phase Two 
			 Local authority Number of properties purchased at 31 October 2013 
			 Staffordshire County Council 1 
			 Warwickshire County Council 1 
		
	
	The information requested in questions (b) and (c) is not externally published data. For data protection purposes, it would be inappropriate to disclose such information as it relates to incomplete purchases, potentially where an individual property-owner has not yet decided how to proceed. Once a purchase has been concluded, it is externally reported via regular publishing on data.gov.uk.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2014, Official Report, column 555W, on High Speed 2: railway line, whether his Department has received further representations on this issue; and what his policy is on outside investment in High Speed 2 infrastructure.

Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport has received no further representations pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2014, Official Report, column 555W, on High Speed 2.
	Due to the scale, complexity and time frame of the project, our base assumption remains that the funding and financing will be provided in large part by central Government. Through the funding envelope allocated to both phases of HS2 during the spending round, the Government reiterated their ongoing commitment to ensuring the delivery of HS2.
	The Government will take forward dialogue on potential funding contributions with a range of third parties in specific localities, with a view to securing a fair deal for the taxpayer, the localities involved and other interested parties.
	The case for HS2 has been calculated on the basis of the project being fully publicly funded. However, the Department is considering the potential for private financing to play a role in helping reduce the up-front costs to the taxpayer.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take immediate steps to reverse the recently-announced decision by Dialogue by Design that it will only accept responses to the Environment Statement Consultation on High Speed 2 that are under 25MB.

Robert Goodwill: There is no limit on the size of consultation responses that will be accepted. There is a limit of 25 MB on the size of emails that the consultation email address can receive. This is normal practice for email service providers, with gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail all having the same 25 MB limit. Such limits are put in place to ensure that email to all users is not blocked by very large files.
	Email is not the only route by which people can respond to the consultation. We are happy to receive responses over 25 MB by alternative means, including via a memory stick through the post. So far we are only aware of one response that exceeds 25 MB and HS2 Ltd are in the process of finding a mutually agreeable solution.

Large Goods Vehicles: Speed Limits

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits and costs of increasing the speed limit for hauliers from 40 mph to 50 mph where current limits apply.

Stephen Hammond: The Department consulted in November 2012 on raising the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on single carriageway roads from 40 to 50 mph. An impact assessment was released with that consultation, and has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Ministers are considering whether to raise the speed limit following consultation, and a further impact assessment is being undertaken as part of that process.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time was for issuing a registration certificate to vehicle keepers by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in each year from 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Average processing time (days) 
			 2010-11 6 
			 2011-12 6 
			 2012-13 7 
			 2013-14 (up to 31 January 2014) 8 
		
	
	The drop in performance in 2013-14 is due to an increase of 7% in the total number of transactions the DVLA is processing based on estimated outturn for 2013-14.
	These figures include certificates issued when a vehicle is first registered, when there has been a change of details, including a change of keeper, and requests for replacements. The average time refers to the time taken from the application being received at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to the customer receiving the certificate. Three days have been included in the time shown to allow for Royal Mail to deliver the certificate.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time was for processing an application for confirmation of non-eligibility for a grounds of disability by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in each year from 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is not readily available. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has used several data sources to provide a best estimate of the time taken to process driving licence applications where medical investigations are needed, whether a driving licence was refused or issued. A considerable amount is spent engaging with medical professionals. This information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Average processing time (working days) 
			 2010-11 27 
			 2011-12 30 
			 2012-13 42 
			 2013-14 (up to 31 January 2014) 39

Parking: Fees and Charges

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2014, Official Report, columns 307-08W, on parking: fees and charges, what the (a) name and (b) region of registration is of each of the 27 companies suspended from requesting vehicle keeper details from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2013.

Stephen Hammond: Of the 27 companies, only 20 were private parking companies. The other companies that have been suspended include finance, insurance and security companies.
	The following table provides the names and regions of the 20 companies that have been suspended from requesting vehicle information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency:
	
		
			 Company name Region of registration* 
			 Town & City Parking Perth and Kinross 
			 Smart Parking Perth and Kinross 
			 Gemini Parking Solutions Ltd London 
			 T & S Parking Services Manchester 
			 BGS Services Guildford 
			 AS SecuriT Southampton 
			 VP Parking Solutions Southampton 
			 Norwich Traffic Control Norwich 
			 Parking Enforcement 365 London 
			 ANPR Parking Services Ltd Amersham 
			 ANPR PC Ltd London 
			 Car Park Solutions Ltd Nottingham 
			 Capital to Coast Security Ltd Hertford 
			 Car Parking Enforcement Company Ltd London 
			 LDK Security Group Ltd London 
			 Capital Car Park Control London 
			 Controlled Parking Management Southall—Middlesex 
			 Northern Parking Services Bristol 
			 Car Parking Enforcement Ltd London 
			 Aumberry Parking Management Ltd Essex 
			 * The 'region of registration' information is the registered address area taken from information held by Companies House and the Finance Conduct Authority (FCA) Mutual Public Address.

Pokesdown for Boscombe Station

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve disability and pushchair access to Pokesdown for Boscombe Railway Station; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: Last year the railway industry was asked to nominate stations for the Access for All programme for 2015-19. Although 277 stations were nominated, Pokesdown for Boscombe was not among them. It will not therefore be considered for the programme. We are not aware of any proposals by SSWT or third parties to improve access to the station.

Railways: Franchises

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will include in the new Greater Thameslink franchise agreement a conditional level of customer satisfaction on the current Great Northern services with an option to withdraw from the franchise if breached;
	(2)  if he will include in the new Greater Thameslink franchise agreement a conditional level of customer satisfaction on the current Great Northern route services with an option to withdraw from the franchise if breached across (a) the entire franchise area and (b) the Hertford Loop;

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to include a passenger satisfaction obligation in the new Greater Thameslink Northern Line Franchise.

Stephen Hammond: The winning bidder for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise will be required to meet a certain level of customer satisfaction, as measured by the National Passenger Survey, together with a certain level of quality relating to station and on-train facilities (called 'QuEST'), and will be incentivised to exceed those levels. Part of the assessment as to which bidder will operate the franchise is an assessment of the plans each bidder has produced to meet and exceed the customer satisfaction and train and station quality benchmarks.
	If during the franchise period there is sustained performance below the levels required, and there is either (a) no action taken by the franchisee, or (b) action is taken but does not result in performance improvements that bring performance back up to the levels required, then the franchisee will be considered to be in contravention of the franchise agreement and may be subject to formal remedial action. In that case, the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), would ultimately have the option to terminate the franchise if the franchisee materially fails to implement the actions that are agreed as part of the formal remedial process.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase passenger access to WiFi in the new franchise on the Greater Thameslink Northern line route from September 2014 .

Stephen Hammond: The invitation to tender (ITT) for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, published 26 September 2013, did not explicitly specify an increase in passenger access to WiFi.
	However, Section 5.7.7 of the ITT (On train facilities and services) states that the Department requires a franchisee who will provide on-train facilities and services (e.g. toilets, luggage space, heating and ventilation, facilities for mobile communications, catering) that are appropriate to the needs of the markets served and operate to a high standard of reliability.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to include a renewal of rolling stock on the Hertford Loop Line in a new franchise granted from September 2014.

Stephen Hammond: The Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, published on 26 September 2013, does not mandate the introduction of new rolling stock on the Hertford Loop. However, Section 5.4.3 of the ITT makes clear that additional credit would be available to Bidders in the evaluation process for Bids that
	“improve the quality of rolling stock used by the Franchisee ... in ways that address identified passenger priorities for improvement”.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to roll out electronic ticketing on the Greater Thameslink Northern Line franchise.

Stephen Hammond: In the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise Invitation To Tender published in September 2013, the Department requires a franchisee who will:
	exploit new technology in relation to ticket retailing to benefit customers, drive efficiencies and support sustainable growth of the business;
	operate a fully interoperable smart and integrated ticketing scheme for the duration of the franchise where already in operation, and for the remainder of the franchise map as soon as possible;
	allow passengers to use a single smart ticket or token on the TSGN network and other South East Flexible Ticketing (“SEFT”) TOC and TFL networks;
	encourage the uptake and use of smart ticketing on the franchise, working with the SEFT Programme including detailed proposals and strategy for innovative smart ticketing arrangements.

Railways: Franchises

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in the new Greater Thameslink franchise agreement a conditional level of customer satisfaction in the current Great Northern services.

Stephen Hammond: The winning bidder for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise will be required to meet a certain level of customer satisfaction, as measured by the National Passenger Survey, together with a certain level of quality relating to station and on-train facilities (called ‘QuEST’), and incentivised to exceed those levels. Part of the assessment as to which bidder will operate the franchise is an assessment of the plans each bidder has produced to meet and exceed the customer satisfaction and train and station quality benchmarks.

Railways: Franchises

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in the new Greater Thameslink franchise agreement an unconditional requirement to refund season ticket holders automatically when required to do so.

Stephen Hammond: The combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise will include the improved system of compensation known as Delay/Repay. Under Delay/Repay all passengers, including season ticket holders, are entitled to claim compensation for each delay of more than 30 minutes which they experience, whatever the cause.
	The TSGN invitation to tender was published in September 2013 and is available on the GOV.UK website here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245041/invitation-to-tender.pdf
	This sets out the full specification for the franchise. Bids have been received and are currently being evaluated.

Railways: South West

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the £26 million for rail flood resilience work in the South West will be transferred from his Department to Network Rail.

Stephen Hammond: It is planned to transfer the £26 million to Network Rail by the end of the financial year.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff at the Belfast Maritime Coastguard Centre were asked to re-apply for their jobs following the reform of the service; and how many such staff were successful in their applications.

Stephen Hammond: No coastguard has been asked to re-apply for the job they currently perform.
	The modernisation of Her Majesty's Coastguard introduces new jobs, with enhanced responsibilities, for coastguards working within the new national network; these jobs are different to those currently performed by coastguards.
	As a result no staff at Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), or any other MRCC around the UK, aligned into the new jobs. Therefore coastguards who want a new job in the modernised structure had to apply for them. The recruitment process for this is currently ongoing.

Road Traffic Control: Schools

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 12W, on road traffic control: schools, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential use of alternative methods of transport to reduce road congestion around primary schools.

Robert Goodwill: The Department has provided £600 million over four years through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The Fund was established to enable the delivery by local transport authorities of sustainable transport solutions that support economic growth while reducing carbon, this includes combating congestion.
	Local authorities are responsible for assessing the methods of transport that will best suit their needs. The Department therefore is responsible for setting local sustainable transport policy at a national level and local authorities are responsible for identifying and implementing sustainable transport options for their local communities, which might include travel to school initiatives.

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is conducting on the impact of enabling Part Six of the Traffic Management Act 2004 with regards to infringements made in mandatory cycle lanes.

Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport is not conducting any such research.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his Department's guidance on the economic impact of highways maintenance and disrepair.

Robert Goodwill: The Department has commissioned a project to value the benefits of highways maintenance. It is expected the final outputs will be delivered in summer 2014.

Tractors

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the cost and benefit of introducing a two-tier licensing scheme for tractors so that those which are suitably licensed can travel at 40 mph.

Stephen Hammond: Tractors that meet certain requirements as laid down in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 can travel at speeds up to 40 mph on public roads in England and Wales. Tractors that do not meet these requirements can only travel at 20 mph under current legislation. The Department has recently consulted on raising the speed limits for low-speed tractors from 20 mph to 25 mph. The responses are currently being considered and the Government will issue a response in due course.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of services carried out by his Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the services it carries out in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards. Following devolution the Department provides services to those living or residing in Wales mainly through its agencies. The Department and its agencies report annually on the progress of Welsh language service provision to the Welsh Language Commissioner. We are fully committed to the Welsh language and fully committed to providing Government services in the Welsh language where there is demand for them.

Wightlink

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the effect of the operations of Wightlink Ferries of the legal costs of dealing with previous and current applications from the Lymington River Association in relation to the operation of ferry services in the Lymington River.

Stephen Hammond: Wightlink Ferries Ltd has stated publicly that it has incurred costs of more than £3.4 million as a result of the legal challenges by Lymington River Association. The Department for Transport has no means to verify the costs that have been incurred by Wightlink Ferries, a private company.

JUSTICE

Administration of Justice

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps his Department has taken to make the justice system more accessible and easier to understand for those without legal knowledge.

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is committed to making sure the justice system is as accessible and easy to understand as possible. All published guidance is written in plain English and avoids using legal jargon, complicated sentences and unfamiliar words wherever possible.
	MOJ has a number of websites, accessible through gov.uk—the Government online portal—which explain how the justice system works. These include: ‘Open Justice’, which explains how different elements of the justice system work; ‘You be the Judge’, which provides accessible information about sentencing; and Police.uk, which focuses on information about crime and policing. Information about legal aid, including how to apply, has also recently been updated and is available on gov.uk. All information on gov.uk adheres to strict plain English standards.
	MOJ has also taken forward a number of initiatives aimed at increasing public understanding and awareness across a range of justice issues. These have included: publishing a new Victims' Code which more clearly sets out the information, support and services that victims can expect to receive from criminal justice agencies in England and Wales at every stage of the process; publishing leaflets to support victims of human trafficking in 11 foreign languages; providing information specifically targeted at those representing themselves in private law family law cases; and producing a range of public information materials about family mediation to help people understand what it offers as an alternative to court. MOJ will shortly publish the ‘Guide to Coroner Services’ booklet for bereaved people. This document will explain, in easy to understand language, the coroner investigation process.
	For those with learning difficulties and disabilities, we additionally publish a number of documents in an Easy Read format, providing a clear summary of the main points to help them better understand the justice process and to ensure they can make informed decisions.

Administration of Justice: Welsh Language

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of Welsh language services in the justice system.

Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice and the majority of its delivery arms and associated agencies across the justice system have either:
	(a) published Welsh language schemes; or
	(b) are covered by the Ministry of Justice Welsh language scheme; or
	(c) are developing their own scheme;
	setting out the actions they will take in the conduct of business and services in Wales in accordance with section 21 of the Welsh Language Act 1993.
	Other arm’s length bodies maintain an independent approach with their own separate Welsh language policy.
	The schemes are living documents, reported on annually in respect of applicability and the achievements of their objectives and revised tri-annually in conjunction with the Welsh Language Commissioner's office.
	Additionally, the Lord Chancellor's Welsh Language Standing Committee, together with the Justice Wales Network work to ensure that the agencies working in the justice system adopt similar policies towards the Welsh language and the implementation of the Welsh Language Act 1993.
	Note:
	The term 'justice system' is broad. The answer provided relates to that part of the justice system that falls to the Ministry of Justice.

Armed Forces

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will issue guidance on when a sentence issued at a summary hearing within the armed forces becomes spent under the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 provide for the recording in national police records of convictions. It is current police policy to retain all information relating to cautions and convictions on the police national computer until the subject reaches 100 years of age, for police operational reasons and in the interest of the prevention and detection of crime.
	Rehabilitation periods for sentences, including for sentences specific to the service justice system (eg detention or dismissal) are set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, A finding at Summary Hearing within the armed forces that a charge has been proved is treated as a conviction, and any sentence imposed by the commanding officer is treated as a sentence, for the purposes of the 1974 Act.
	There is no separate guidance on convictions for service offences, as they are treated in the same way as ‘civilian’ offences. The same rehabilitation periods apply to sentences which are imposed in the service justice system as are imposed by the civilian justice system. In addition, there are specific rehabilitation periods for sentences of dismissal and service detention. However, some advice for service personnel has been included in revised guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 which will be published shortly.

Charter of Fundamental Rights (EU)

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his contribution on 19 November 2013 on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, what meetings he has had with officials to determine a suitable test case; what time limit he has set for his Department to identify a suitable test case; and when he intends to report to Parliament on progress made.

Simon Hughes: Officials from the Ministry of Justice are working with colleagues across government to identify a suitable case in which to make clear our position on the legal effect of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. We are seeking to do so as soon as possible; the timescale will depend upon when such a case arises.

Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if the Government will undertake a full review of the sentencing guidelines relating to dangerous driving offences.

Jeremy Wright: Guidance to the judiciary is produced independently of Government, by the Sentencing Council. This is in line with the principle that, while the Government decides what maximum penalties should be, the courts are responsible for deciding what sentence to impose within those limits.
	The sentencing guideline on causing death by driving was published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in 2008. It covers the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving as well as causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drink or drugs and causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. Last year, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), wrote to the Sentencing Council (as it now is) to ask them to review the death by driving guideline and they have agreed to include this in their programme of work.
	Severe maximum penalties, of 14 years imprisonment, are available for those who cause death through dangerous driving or under the influence of drink or drugs and statistics show that the overwhelming majority of those convicted for these offences receive lengthy custodial sentences.

European Convention On Human Rights

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 123W, on the European Convention on Human Rights, when he intends to bring the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights before Parliament for its approval; and what recent meetings he has had on this matter.

Simon Hughes: Parliament will be given a full opportunity to examine the terms of the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights in accordance with the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and the European Union Act 2011, as well as the usual EU scrutiny processes in each House.
	A draft accession agreement is currently before the European Court of Justice for an opinion on its compatibility with the EU Treaties. The Commission's 2014 Work Programme sets out that the Commission intends to produce a legislative proposal on the internal EU rules this year; that will be deposited in Parliament once it is received. The 2014 Work Programme was deposited in Parliament on 15 November 2013:
	http://europeanmemoranda.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/memorandum/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-the-council-the-european-economic-social-committee-1384673730
	The Lithuanian presidency provided a state of play report on the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 5-6 December, which the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), the Secretary of State for Justice attended.
	That report indicated that the Commission's legislative proposal will not be issued until the European Court of Justice has delivered its opinion on the compatibility of the draft accession agreement with the EU Treaties. This was set out in the written ministerial statement given by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on 12 December 2013, Official Report, columns 58-62WS:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131212/wmstext/131212m0001.htm

Family Conciliation Services

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of family mediation services for those are seeking to resolve issues surrounding child contact.

Simon Hughes: The Government has put in place a comprehensive strategy to improve public awareness and to ensure that advice agencies, and other organisations have the correct information about the benefits of family mediation for all issues which arise after separation. This includes very clear information that legal aid and legal support are still available subject to rules governing qualification. We are also providing materials to help mediation services publicise their services locally.

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the provisions in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 2012 for sentences to be aggravated for any offence motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of being transgender were commenced; and how many aggravated sentences of this kind have been imposed since commencement.

Jeremy Wright: Changes to the law to bring transgender hate crime into line with offences motivated by hostility on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, came into force on 3 December 2012.
	The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information the gender identity of the victims of offences aggravated by prejudice and hate. This detailed information may be held by the courts on individual case files which due to their size and complexity are not reported to Justice Statistics Analytical Services. As such, this information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Judges

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) name, (b) position and (c) date of appointment is of all current High Court and circuit judges who have identified as belonging to an ethnic monitory.

Shailesh Vara: General judicial diversity information is in the public domain and is available on the judiciary website:
	http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications-and-reports/statistics/diversity-stats-and-gen-overview
	Information provided by individual judicial office holders about their ethnicity is deemed personal information and is therefore restricted under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Legal Opinion: Hearing Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that implementation of new regulations by the Solicitors Regulation Authority will result in deaf and hard of hearing clients having access to interpreters when seeking legal counsel from solicitors' firms.

Shailesh Vara: The legal profession is independent of the Government and is regulated by approved regulators for which the Legal Services Board has oversight responsibility. It is for the Solicitors Regulation Authority to determine how it should implement and enforce any new regulatory requirements, including through their Code of Conduct. All solicitors firms are subject to disability discrimination legislation.

Magistrates

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what recruitment campaigns his Department has run for magistrates vacancies since May 2010; in which region such campaigns were run; and how many vacancies were (a) advertised and (b) filled;
	(2)  what the publicised (a) opening and (b) closing date was of each recruitment campaign for a magistrate vacancy since May 2010; for which of those recruitment campaigns the application process was closed early; and on what date each such early closure took place.

Shailesh Vara: HMCTS does not hold centralised details of recruitment campaigns for lay magistracy as magistrates are recruited and selected by 47 local advisory committees.
	HMCTS will contact the 47 advisory committees to obtain the requested data, and we will write to you with the details.

Magistrates' Courts: Bedfordshire

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases have been listed at (a) Bedford and (b) Luton Magistrates' Court in each of the last five years; and how many of the cases listed at each in each such year related to (i) family, (ii) criminal and (iii) other matters.

Shailesh Vara: In magistrates courts, data are recorded where proceedings against a defendant are completed. The number of completed proceedings in Bedford and Luton magistrates courts split by jurisdiction is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Completed proceedings at magistrates courts in Bedfordshire 
			  Family Criminal Bedford Criminal Luton Other Total 
			 2009 165 20,776 7,302 28,243 
			 2010 129 7,534 9,721 7,715 25,099 
			 2011 545 6,974 10,392 13,270 31,181 
			 2012 767 6,148 13,527 15,080 35,522 
			 2013 January to September 645 2,747 8,726 6,001 18,119 
			 Notes: 1. Non-criminal performance data for magistrates courts is collected by county and not by court location. Therefore Family and Other data cannot be split below Bedfordshire. 2. Crime data at courthouse level is only available from 2010 onwards as the courts had not migrated to Libra, the case management system until December 2009. 3. Other includes Civil, Means Enquiries and Representation Orders. 4. Data for 2013 covers January to September only, data covering October to December will not be published until March 2014. Source: HMCTS Performance Database

Magistrates: Welsh Language

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of magistrates in (a) Wales and (b) each Welsh county are Welsh speaking.

Shailesh Vara: The percentage of Welsh speaking magistrates in Wales is 17%. The percentages on a county level are:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 Anglesey 58 
			 Gwynedd 81 
			 Conwy 22 
			 Denbighshire 15 
			 Flintshire 8 
			 Wrexham 6 
			 Powys 15 
			 Dyfed 55 
			 Gwent 3 
			 Mid Glamorgan 3.5 
			 South Glamorgan 9 
			 West Glamorgan 5 
		
	
	The Ministry of Justice announced in 2010 that Advisory Committees could actively advertise for Welsh speaking magistrates based on the principle of ensuring Benches adequately reflect the linguistic profile of the areas they serve.

Non-molestation Orders: West Sussex

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many non-molestation orders were issued by Horsham county court in West Sussex in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.

Simon Hughes: Table 1, as follows, shows the numbers of non-molestation orders made at Horsham county court in each quarter between January 2011 and September 2013.
	
		
			 Table 1: Non-molestation orders made at Horsham county court, January 2011 to September 2013 
			  Quarter1 Number of non-molestation orders made 
			 2011  38 
			 2012  60 
			 2013 (to 30 September)  62 
			    
			 2011 1 9 
			  2 6 
			  3 10 
			  4 13 
			    
			 2012 1 15 
			  2 10 
			  3 17 
			  4 18 
			    
			 2013 1 24 
			  2 17 
			  3 21 
			 1 Quarter 1 = January to March, Quarter 2 = April to June, Quarter 3 = July to September and Quarter 4 = October to December. Source: HM Courts and Tribunals Service's FamilyMan case management system

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of women who will be recalled to custody under his Department's Transforming Rehabilitation proposals.

Jeremy Wright: Under our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, we expect new providers of probation services to focus on making sure that all offenders, including women, do not return to custody and desist completely from reoffending. Providers will need to meet national standards set by the Secretary of State for the management of offenders and will have to evidence in their bids how they would deliver gender-specific rehabilitation support to female offenders. Successful bidders will be held to account to deliver these services in their contracts.
	The impact assessment for the Offender Rehabilitation Bill outlines our analysis of the projected impacts on overall breach rates for licence conditions, and can be found at the following link. This analysis does not specifically project breach or recall rates by gender.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208171/updated-rehabilitation-bill-impact-assessment.pdf

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure women released from prison into a different-contract package area receive high quality and holistic rehabilitation services and support.

Jeremy Wright: The proposed resettlement prison model for women prisoners stems from the National Offender Management Service's review of the women's custodial estate. Part of the outcome of the review was that all women's prisons should be designated resettlement prisons in order to make sure that women prisoners in every establishment have access to resettlement services. Most resettlement prisons for women prisoners will serve more than one Contract Package Area (CPA) so that as many providers of probation services will have access to their area's cohort of prisoners as is operationally viable.
	The model developed for the women's estate, which allows multiple providers access to most establishments, will mean that the majority of women prisoners will be provided resettlement services by the same provider who will provide statutory rehabilitation support upon release. For any women prisoners who are not accommodated in a prison to which their home provider has access, there will be a host lead provider, who will be responsible for preparing resettlement plans, delivering immediate requirements and engaging in pre-release planning with the women's home CRC.

Pay

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of staff employed by (i) his Department, (ii) agencies of his Department and (iii) contractors of his Department are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage.

Simon Hughes: The overwhelming majority of our directly employed staff are paid more than the living wage. We do not hold information on wages paid by our contractors. The Government encourages contractors to commit to paying a living wage and of course we insist that employers pay at least the minimum wage. However, when awarding contracts we need to make sure that we get the best possible deal for taxpayers.
	Such data as is held centrally is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 As at 30 November 2013 
			  Number below living wage On strength headcount (number) Proportion of staff employed (percentage) 
			 (i) Department    
			 Includes HQ, NOMS, HMCTS, OPG and LAA 409 64,241 0.64 
			     
			 (ii) Agencies    
			 HQ 1 4,303 0.02 
			 NOMS 237 38,880 0.61 
			 HMCTS 171 18,987 0.90 
			 OPG 0 572 0 
			 LAA 0 1,499 0 
		
	
	As of 30 November 2013, out of 64,241 direct employees (headcount) working in national locations 409 direct employees are paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as the UK living wage, using the new rates as of 4 November 2013. This equates to 0.64% of direct employees.
	The direct employees included form part of the core Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and its agencies:
	the National Offender Management Service (NOMS);
	HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS);
	Legal Aid Agency (LAA);
	and Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).
	The most recent pay rates for the lower paid direct employees were set on 1 August 2013, prior to the new UK living wage rates being introduced on 4 November 2013. Prior to 4 November 2013 the core MoJ and agencies (excluding NOMS) had no staff below living wage rate. In NOMS, this stood at around 200 direct employees.
	Information on contractors paid less than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage is not recorded centrally. We would need to approach all of our contractors and or their agencies to get them to provide the information. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Pay

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many civil servants are on each pay grade in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him;
	(2)  what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located.

Shailesh Vara: Details regarding the number of civil servants on each pay grade together with the proportion of staff working both within and outside London can be found in the following tables. Figures include staff employed in the Ministry of Justice HQ (MoJ HQ), HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), National Offender Management Service (NOMS), Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and Legal Aid Agency (LAA).
	
		
			 Table 1: On strength headcount of civil servants in the Ministry of Justice and agencies by pay grade, as at 31 December 2013 
			 Number 
			 Department/agency AA/AO EO SEO/HEO Grade 6/7 SCS Total 
			 MoJ HQ Ministerial Department 913 868 1,627 710 113 4,231 
			 HMCTS Executive Agency 13,178 2,850 2,416 508 31 18,983 
			 NOMS Executive Agency 26,252 6,154 5,076 582 36 38,100 
			 OPG Executive Agency 339 151 79 8 2 579 
			 LAA Executive Agency 650 378 370 79 12 1,489 
			        
			 Total 41,332 10,401 9,568 1,887 194 63,382 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Total number of on strength staff by headcount employed by the Ministry of Justice and its agencies located in and outside London, as at 31 December 2013 
			 Number 
			 Location MoJ HQ HMCTS NOMS OPG LAA Total 
			 London 2,402 4,400 4,593 30 418 11,843 
			 Outside London 1,829 14,583 33,507 549 1,071 51,539 
			        
			 Total 4,231 18,983 38,100 579 1,489 63,382 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Proportion of on strength staff by headcount employed by the Ministry of Justice and its agencies located in and outside London, as at 31 December 2013 
			 Percentage 
			 Location MoJ HQ HMCTS NOMS OPG LAA Total 
			 London 57 23 12 5 28 19 
			 Outside London 43 77 88 95 72 81 
			        
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	Information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is not recorded centrally. Answering this element of the question would require an individual commission for data from all MoJ NDPBs with the subsequent collation and production of an assured report. This would incur a disproportionate cost.
	In order to provide details of the number of MoJ staff located in each of the principal local authorities in outside London, we would need to identify each MoJ, agency and NDPB local office and then cross reference each with every local authority. This too would involve a disproportionate cost.

Pensions

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what effect changes in pension contributions have had on the take-home pay of officials of his Department at (a) AA, (b) AO and LO2, (c) EO and LO1, (d) HEO, (e) SEO, (f) 7 and (g) SCS grades and equivalents since May 2010.

Simon Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd), on 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 215W:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140204/text/140204w0003.htm#140204106000057

Prison Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prison officers working in (a) male and (b) female prisons are (i) male and (ii) female.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the proportion of male and female prison officers working in both adult male and adult female establishments is contained in the following table. The information relates to both public and private sector establishments.
	
		
			 Table: Proportion of prison officers that are male and female by category of establishment as at 31 March 2013 
			 Category of establishment1 Gender of prison officers Percentage 
			 Male establishments Male 77 
			  Female 23 
			    
			 Female establishments Male 39 
			  Female 61 
			 1 Information on HMP Dovegate was not available within the time available and is therefore not included within the calculations.

Prison Service: Training

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many training places are available each year for custodial staff in (a) suicide prevention and (b) self-harm prevention; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: All staff working in prisons who have contact with prisoners, are required to undertake, as a minimum, the Introduction to Safer Custody course which is a half day course that includes training on suicide prevention and self-harm. Additional training, including enhanced mental health awareness, is provided for the specialist roles of Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case manager (two days) and ACCT assessor (three days). Refresher training must be provided for all staff, but the extent of this is dependent on local training needs.
	The number of training places available each year is not held centrally. It is determined by an assessment of local need at each prison.

Prisoners

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been kept overnight in (a) police cells and (b) court cells in each month since May 2010.

Jeremy Wright: Prison numbers fluctuate throughout the year and we have sufficient accommodation for the current and expected population. We will always have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts. There will be more adult male prison capacity in May 2015 than there was at the start of this Parliament.
	Police cells, under Operation Safeguard, have not been used since 22 September 2008 and no police cells under Operation Safeguard have been on stand by since the end of October 2008. Court cells have not been used since 28 February 2008 and have been stood down since March 2008.
	Separately to Operation Safeguard arrangements, there are occasions where prisoners may be temporarily held overnight in police cells. These occasions arise from a number of factors, including late court sittings, which can compromise the contractors' ability to deliver the prisoner to prison prior to the reception closure time. They largely consist of situations where escort contractors are unable to transport the prisoner to a suitable prison following a court appearance, due perhaps to inclement weather or failings in the transport network or because we have sufficient space but the places cannot be reached in the time available. This is solely for overnight accommodation by the police before collection and onward transmission to the prison establishment the following working day
	The following table shows the number of occasions where prisoners were temporarily held overnight in police cells in each month since May 2010. The totals include adults, young adults (18 to 20-year-olds) and young people (15 to 17-year-olds). The number of prisoners held overnight in a police cell has come down to below 1,000 in 2012-13, after reaching a peak of over 50,000 in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Financial year 
			 Month 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 April — 16 84 42 
			 May 21 45 55 38 
			 June 3 27 74 33 
			 July 5 25 56 41 
			 August 17 6 46 37 
			 September 16 464 47 65 
			 October 15 276 35 189 
			 November 26 155 66 129 
			 December 28 154 32 122 
			 January 24 94 48 168 
			 February 18 115 69 — 
			 March 10 97 74 — 
			 Total 183 1,474 686 864

Prisoners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people whose previous residence is listed as being in Coventry are currently in prison;
	(2)  how many people whose previous residence is listed as being in the West Midlands are currently in prison.

Jeremy Wright: As at 31 December 2013, there were 5,482 male and female prisoners held in a prison or young offender institution with a recorded residential address in the West Midlands.
	Of these, 574 had a recorded residential address in the Coventry local authority area.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible error(s) with data entry and processing.
	If no address is given, an offender's committal court address is used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident. These figures are included in the answers above. No address has been recorded and no court information is available for around 3% of all offenders, these are excluded from the answer. Information on offenders’ residences is provided by them on reception in prison and recorded on a central IT system. Addresses can include home address, an address to which offenders intend to return on discharge or next of kin address.

Prisoners: Counselling

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if his Department will expand the Samaritans and Listener Scheme within prisons in England and Wales.

Jeremy Wright: The Government is committed to reducing the number of deaths in prison custody. Peer support can be an effective tool to complement the support given by staff to prisoners, particularly those identified at risk of suicide or self-harm. The Samaritans supported Listener scheme (Listeners are volunteer peer supporters who are selected, trained and supported by Samaritans, to listen and offer confidential emotional support to prisoners in distress) is recognised as a very effective scheme to support prisoners in distress. NOMS currently provides funding to Samaritans to support their work in prisons.
	All prisons are required to provide prisoners with access to peer support, although this does not have to be through a Samaritans supported Listener scheme. There are currently 113 Samaritans supported Listener schemes in prisons.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners have been sentenced (a) for drug offences and (b) under section 1(1) of the Street Offences Act 1959 in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: In answer to part (a), the following table provides information on the number of foreign national offenders in prison for drug offences in England and Wales in each of the last five years.
	In answer to part (b), offence information held centrally within prison population data is not available at sufficient detail to enable the offence to be explicitly identified. This information may be available in individual prisoner records for offender management purposes but to retrieve and collate the information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Reducing the foreign national offender (FNO) population is a top priority for this Government. We are working hard to reduce the flow of foreign national offenders into our prison system and increase the number removed from the UK through prisoner transfer agreements (PTAs); the Early Removal scheme (ERS) and Tariff Expired Removal scheme (TERS).
	All foreign national offenders sentenced to custody are referred to the Home Office for them to consider deportation at the earliest possible opportunity.
	
		
			 Foreign national prisoners serving an immediate custodial sentence for drug offences, 30 June 2009-13, England and Wales 
			  Total 
			 2009 2,138 
			 2010 2,057 
			 2011 1,757 
			 2012 1,716 
			 2013 1,370 
			 Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Nigeria

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Nigerian government about including James Ibori in a prisoner transfer agreement.

Mark Simmonds: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	Individual cases were not considered during discussion or negotiation of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Nigeria, which was signed in Abuja in January 2014. The transfer of prisoners under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement is a matter for the Secretary of State for Justice.

Prisoners: Self-harm

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to introduce comprehensive psychological assessments for a prisoner who has carried out an episode of self-harm; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: All prisons are required to have in place procedures to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. There are procedures in place to reduce that risk which include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process. This is a prisoner-centred, flexible care planning system for those identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm. An ACCT plan will be put in place following a prisoner's episode of self-harm or where a risk has been identified.
	Within 24 hours of the ACCT plan being established a multi-disciplinary case review will take place. The case review team will develop a care and management plan for each prisoner based on the risk presented to address their individual needs. This may include a referral to psychological services or mental health in-reach team. Prisoners may also be referred for a mental health assessment.

Prisoners: Self-harm

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to introduce a system of case reviews of prisoners engaging in multiple acts of self-harm to determine likely contributory factors; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: A system of case reviews for prisoners engaging in multiple acts of self-harm is in place. All prisons are required to have procedures to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves and to reduce that risk. These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process, which is a prisoner-centred, flexible care planning system for those identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm.
	Within the ACCT process there is an enhanced case review system for use in particularly challenging cases, including prisoners who display prolific, sustained and/or extreme incidents of self-harming behaviour. The enhanced case review team will draw on more specialists, including a member of the mental health team, and a higher level of operational management, according to the specific needs of the individual.

Prisoners: Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who took their own lives within (a) one month and (b) two months at the end of a custodial sentence in each year between 2010 and 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: This information is not held centrally. Data on deaths of all offenders who either serve or complete their sentences in the community are not available. It is therefore not possible to estimate the number of individuals who took their own lives during the last two months of their sentences.

Probation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether community rehabilitation companies will continue to be badged as the Probation Service.

Jeremy Wright: Our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms are extending supervision to short-sentenced offenders and opening up the market to a wider range of providers in order to bring more innovation into rehabilitation services and deliver a reduction in reoffending. The national probation service (NPS) will retain responsibility for the supervision of offenders who pose a high risk of serious harm to the public. Those offenders assessed as posing a low to medium risk will be supervised by one of the new community rehabilitation companies (CRCs). While supervision will in future be handled by providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors, there will be a coherent system in place which will be instantly recognisable to the public as a probation service. For this reason, there will be common branding for both the NPS and CRCs which retains a probation identity.

Probation

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any proposals under the Probation Change programme for partnership working will be piloted before a national roll-out.

Jeremy Wright: Under our Transforming Rehabilitation proposals, providers will be incentivised to reduce reoffending, and to establish links with statutory and non-statutory partners.
	We are currently piloting a number of different approaches to payment by results across Government. Of particular value in terms of learning for the roll-out of our reform are the pilots in Peterborough and Doncaster. According to interim reconviction data, these pilots are having a positive effect and show a marked fall in reoffending:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254186/annex-a-payment-by-results-oct13.pdf
	Final results for the first pilot cohorts will be available in 2014.
	Organisations bidding to run one of the new Community Rehabilitation Companies will need to clearly demonstrate how they will engage with statutory and non-statutory partners in order to deliver offender services.

Probation

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to pilot payment by results schemes run under contracts won by the private sector.

Jeremy Wright: Under our Transforming Rehabilitation proposals, payment by results will offer a strong incentive to providers to focus on reducing reoffending. We are currently piloting a number of different approaches to payment by results across Government, and the pilots in Peterborough and Doncaster have been of particular value as we begin to roll out new ways of working. According to interim reconviction data, these pilots are having a positive effect and show a marked fall in reoffending;
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254186/annex-a-payment-by-results-oct13.pdf
	Final results for the first pilot cohorts will be available in 2014.
	There are certain elements of the reforms that are not possible to pilot on a local basis. For example, the provisions in the Offender Rehabilitation Bill that will extend license and supervision to offenders released from short custodial sentences could not be introduced in one part of the country but not another.

Probation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funds he will make available to the National Probation Service after 1 June 2014 for the recruitment of trainee probation officers in England and Wales.

Jeremy Wright: The National Probation Service (NPS) will make a fundamental contribution to protecting the public from the most dangerous offenders in the community. Adequate resources and funding will be available for the recruitment of trainee probation officers in England and Wales, and the National Offender Management Service is in the process of letting a contract to provide recruitment services for the Probation Qualification Framework programme. This will enable the recruitment of staff with the potential to develop the skills and knowledge to work effectively with offenders.

Probation Trusts

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the anticipated underspend for the financial year 2013-14 for each of the 35 probation trusts in England and Wales is.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service expects each Probation Trust to keep their expenditure in line with agreed individual contract values in relation to the services they have been commissioned to deliver to NOMS. The National Offender Management Service works with Trusts to adjust contracts and redeploy resources as appropriate with a view to avoiding under spends at the end of the financial year and to making best use of taxpayer's money.

Probation: Private Sector

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evidence his Department has used in formulating its proposals to sell parts of the Probation Service.

Jeremy Wright: Published re-offending statistics show that, in the year to March 2012, 58% of prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months re-offended within 12 months of release from custody, compared to 34% for prisoners released from sentences of 12 months or more. Overall, reoffending rates have barely changed over the last decade.
	The National Audit Office (2010) report “Managing Offenders on Short Custodial Sentences” estimated that the total cost to the economy of crime committed by short-sentenced offenders during 2007-08 was around £7 billion to £10 billion a year.
	These figures make the case for reform very clear. Under our proposals in “Transforming Rehabilitation—A strategy for reform”, which we published in May 2013, we are extending supervision to short sentenced offenders and incentivising providers to reduce offending. The pilots in Peterborough and Doncaster have informed the new strategy, particularly in terms of working in partnership with providers from the private and voluntary sectors. According to interim reconviction data, these pilots show a fall in reoffending rates among the cohort of offenders covered by the scheme:

Property

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) name, (b) location, (c) floor space, (d) tenure status and (e) value is of properties (i) owned and (ii) occupied by (A) his Department and (B) agencies and public bodies accountable to him.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice estate is one of the largest in central Government and comprises of over 1,500 properties.
	Details of the Government Central Civil Estate, such as the property name, location, tenure, and Net Internal Area, are recorded on the Central Government property database, Epims. These records are available via the following link:
	www.data.gov.uk/dataset/epims

Rape: Convictions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish a quarterly summary of the number of convictions for a primary offence of rape over the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: Rape and sexual violence are abhorrent crimes for which there are tough sentences available. Every report of rape is treated seriously and all investigations and prosecutions are conducted thoroughly and professionally. Tougher sentences are available to the courts for those who commit these offences, including a new mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of a second very serious sexual or violent crime. The proportion of offenders sentenced to custody has been around the same level for the last five years.
	We already publish annual figures for prosecutions and convictions for rape offences.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for rape offences, in England and Wales, from 2008 to 2012 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
	
		
			 Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for rape offence1, England and Wales, 2008 to 20122,3 
			  Quarter Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction ratio5 (%) 
			 20084 Q1 583 208 35.7 
			  Q2 630 245 38.9 
			  Q3 578 239 41.3 
			  Q4 604 230 38.1 
			  Total 2,395 922 38.5 
			      
			 2009 Q1 680 239 35.1 
			  Q2 716 251 35.1 
			  Q3 759 235 31.0 
			  Q4 642 272 42.4 
			  Total 2,797 997 35.6 
			 2010 Q1 776 274 35.3 
			  Q2 806 216 26.8 
			  Q3 768 271 35.3 
			  Q4 721 297 41.2 
			  Total 3,071 1,058 34.5 
			      
			 2011 Q1 728 320 44.0 
			  Q2 711 274 38.5 
			  Q3 762 292 38.3 
			  Q4 723 267 36.9 
			  Total 2,924 1,153 39.4 
			      
			 2012 Q1 707 309 43.7 
			  Q2 693 276 39.8 
			  Q3 711 268 37.7 
			  Q4 711 292 41.1 
			  Total 2,822 1,145 40.6 
			 1 Includes attempted rape. 2 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. 5 Conviction ratio is calculated as the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of proceedings. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Reparation by Offenders

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many victims have (a) been offered and (b) taken part in restorative justice programmes since 2010;
	(2)  how many (a) female and (b) male offenders held in prisons have been included in restorative justice programmes since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: The Government is committed to ensuring that restorative justice is victim-focused, of a good quality and available at all stages of the criminal justice system across England and Wales.
	We recently announced funding of almost £30 million over three years for restorative justice. Of this nearly £23 million has been allocated to police and crime commissioners to build capacity and capability and where that is sufficient, commission victim-initiated restorative justice and pre-sentence restorative justice services.
	Information about the numbers of victims or offenders who are invited to participate in a restorative justice programme, or take up that offer, is not collated centrally.

Residence Orders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what proportion of all cases heard in family courts where both the mother and father sought custody of their children the residence order was awarded to (a) the mother, (b) the father and (c) jointly to both the mother and father in each of the last five years.

Simon Hughes: The information held on the departmental database on family cases does not record details of the orders given, such as which party or parties were awarded the order. The information requested can only be obtained through the inspection of individual files at disproportionate cost.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many defendants were sentenced to between six and 12 months custody by a Crown court for one either way offence in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: Triable either way offences can be heard in the Crown court for trial if the magistrates court considers it is so serious that only the Crown court could deal with the case, or for sentence if the magistrates do not consider that they have sufficient sentencing powers. The defendant may also elect to be tried in the Crown court if charged with a triable either way offence.
	The proportion of defendants sentenced to between six and 12 months immediate custody by a Crown court for a single either way offence, in England and Wales has increased from 7.48% in 2008 to 8.21% in 2012 (the latest available). The figures can be viewed in the following table.
	Court proceedings for the calendar year 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
	
		
			 Defendants sentenced to immediate custody1 at the Crown court for triable either way offences2 in England and Wales, 2008 to 20123, 4 
			 Sentence band Custody 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Over 6 months under 12 months Immediate custody 4,947 5,611 5,619 6,292 5,764 
			  Custody rate (percentage)5 7.48 7.81 7.16 7.91 8.21 
			 1 Includes: sentences imposed under sections 90-92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000; indeterminate sentence for public protection; extended sentence for public protection; Detention and Training Orders; Young Offenders Institute; and unsuspended imprisonment. 2 Offences that fall within this category can be dealt with either in the magistrates court or the Crown court. The defendant can elect the trial court. If the defendant elects to be tried in the Crown court, the case is automatically committed to the Crown court. Where the defence ask to be dealt with in the magistrates court then it is for the magistrates to decide whether this is appropriate. 3 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 4 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 5 The proportion of offenders sentenced who are sentenced to immediate custody for triable either way offences only. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Sentencing

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were sentenced to (a) less than one month imprisonment, (b) between one and two months imprisonment, (c) between two and three months imprisonment, (d) between three and six months imprisonment, (e) between six and nine months imprisonment and (f) between nine and 12 months imprisonment in the last year for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: Many offenders who receive short custodial sentences do so because of their history of previous offending. Under the Government's proposals in the Offender Rehabilitation Bill offenders serving sentences of less than 12 months will in the future be released with licence conditions and subject to additional supervision. These reforms are designed to address the unacceptably high levels of reoffending and the prevent the public from being victims of crime.
	The number of persons sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months or less from 2008 to 2012 can be viewed in the table.
	
		
			 Offenders sentenced to immediate custody by length of sentence, 2008 to 2012, England and Wales1, 2 
			  Sentence length  
			  Less than 1 month 1 month and less than 2 months 2 months and less than 3 months 3 months and less than 6 months 6 months and less than 9 months 9 months and less than 12 months 12 months Other immediate custodial sentences Total sentenced to custody 
			 20083 11,587 9,986 9,180 21,593 8,783 3,867 5,652 28,877 99,525 
			 2009 12,154 10,633 9,827 19,473 8,729 3,753 5,837 29,825 100,231 
			 2010 13,513 11,551 9,999 18,425 8,435 3,626 5,618 30,346 101,513 
			 2011 13,986 12,095 10,225 18,423 8,984 3,866 5,947 32,644 106,170 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 13,280 11,276 9,571 16,724 8,292 3,421 4,788 30,695 98,047 
			 1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

Serco

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints have been received by Serco in relation to the contract for Community Payback in London since taking over that contract.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 486W.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Government's commitment to give due consideration to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when making new policy and legislation, if he will place in the Library all assessments of how new policy and legislation from his Department since January 2013 has given due consideration to the UNCRC.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice is committed to giving due consideration to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) during the policy-making process.
	The Ministry of Justice has the lead policy responsibility for the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill which was introduced on 5 February. A memorandum on compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was published with the Bill and made available in both Houses:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277929/european-convention-human-rights-memorandum.pdf
	Individuals' Convention rights overlap with the rights set out in the UNCRC.
	The Bill includes the introduction of secure colleges. The Government consulted on this proposal. The Ministry of Justice published a young person's version of the consultation paper and engaged extensively with young people in custody. More than 400 young people responded to the consultation. The central proposal for a greater focus on education and training in custody was supported by the majority of respondents.
	The Bill provides for an appropriate adult to be available for a formal youth out-of-court disposal given to anyone aged 17, bringing the position of 17-year-olds into line with the position of younger children. The Bill also makes minor changes to youth referral orders, a community sentence for under-18s. All these provisions in the Bill are in line with the UNCRC.
	The Ministry of Justice shares policy responsibility with the Department for Education for certain provisions in the Children and Families Bill which is currently before Parliament. A formal assessment of the Bill against the UNCRC was carried out prior to its publication. A copy has been placed in the Library and can be found on the Department for Education website at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/140213%20echr%20and%20uncr%20note%20for%20publication% 20final%20lao.pdf
	The Department for Education also published a Children and Young Persons guide to the Children and Families Bill on 25 February 2013 and this is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-young-persons-guide-to-the-children-and-families-bill
	The UK Government is due to report to the UN Committee responsible for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child shortly. The Department for Education is co-ordinating the response with contributions from other Government Departments, including the Ministry of Justice. Once the Government has submitted its response to the UN Committee a copy of the report will be placed in the House Library.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of services carried out by his Department in Wales in relation to the Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Welsh Language Standards.

Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is fully committed to the Welsh language and fully committed to providing MoJ services in the Welsh language so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable. It is important that in the non-devolved areas sufficient support should be given to the Welsh language, and we are committed to ensuring this is done.
	To this end, the Ministry of Justice and the majority of its delivery arms and associated agencies have either:
	(a) published Welsh language schemes; or
	(b) are covered by the Ministry of Justice Welsh language scheme; or
	(c) are developing their own scheme.
	setting out the actions they will take in the conduct of business and services in Wales in accordance with section 21 of the Welsh Language Act 1993.
	Other arm’s length bodies maintain an independent approach with their own separate Welsh language policy.
	The schemes are living documents, reported on annually in respect of applicability and the achievements of their objectives, and revised every three years in conjunction with the Welsh Language Commissioner's office.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many deaths in custody have involved an individual diagnosed with ADHD in each year since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: We are committed to the safety of prisoners and to preventing deaths in prison custody.
	Information on whether a deceased prisoner was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not recorded centrally.

Youth Custody

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many investigations into injuries of children resident in secure children homes have taken place since 2010; and how many such investigations have concluded that restraint of the child by a member or members of staff have been found to be the cause of the injury.

Edward Timpson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Education.
	The responsibility for secure children's homes (SCH) rests with local authorities who commission placements on behalf of individual children. Ofsted inspects the quality and support provided by SCHs twice a year. This includes looking at incidents of restraint that occur in the homes.